Project Results:
Although a considerable amount of plastic waste is collected by waste pickers and sold to the plastic recycling sector, there is still a lot of plastic waste dumped and burnt. To solve this problem, Plastic Fantastic, a Dutch SME, developed the plastoformer with the aim to provide an affordable plastic recycling machine to entrepreneurs in developing countries. This low cost machine is within the financial reach of small enterprises and can have a huge environmental and social impact when scaled up to small enterprises producing valuable products for the local market.
The plastoformer is ready to be sold in quantities but proof of concept was needed with a pilot to test which products are appropriate for the local market. This (small) VIA Water project aimed to pilot the plastoformer in Senegal.
The project is linked to the Greening Plastic Project of VIA Water in Senegal. In that project Mamadou Diaw, an entrepreneur (DMS Senegal) in plastic recycling, expanded his production and services to recycled drip-irrigation-systems.
Key results
The project accomplished:
- Knowledge of Mamadou and his team to use the Plastoformer
- Introduction of three moulds (one for cup-covers, one for puzzle pieces and one for flower pots, waste bins or growbags)
- Training workshop for 25 participants interested in plastic recycling. Three out of them are seriously interested to start a recycling business with the plastoformer
- Quick scan of business performance of DMS Senegal
- Signing of an MoU between Plastic Fantastic and one of the potential entrepreneurs willing to use the Plastoformer
- Small market study of plastoformer products
Potential for growth
Conclusion of this relatively small project is that there is potential for scaling the plastoformer in Senegal and other (African)countries. It is now up to the entrepreneurs to pick up on the opportunities given and to expand their businesses.
Project partners
DMS Senegal, WASTE, Plastic Fantastic, Deltares
Period
January 2018 – August 2018
Last project updates
No updates yet
Background
The plastic waste problem is increasing in many developing countries. Although a considerable amount of plastic waste is collected by waste pickers and sold to the plastic recycling sector, there is still a lot of plastic waste dumped and burnt. To solve this problem, Plastic Fantastic developed the plastoformer with the aim to provide an affordable plastic recycling machine to entrepreneurs in developing countries. This low cost machine is within the financial reach of small enterprises and will have a huge environmental and social impact when scaled up to thousands of small enterprises producing valuable products for the local market. At this moment the plastoformer is ready to be sold in quantities but proof of concept is needed with pilot studies to test which products are appropriate for the local market. Mamadou Diaw is entrepreneur in plastic recycling in Senegal. He is a returnee migrant from Italy where he obtained both his knowledge of plastics and sufficient capital to start his own company in Senegal. He is presently a partner in the Greening Plastic Project, funded by VIA Water and DAWCA, in which he is expanding his production and services to recycled drip-irrigation-systems. Mamadou’s enterprise, DMS, is perfectly suited to test the plastoformer; as it is a small enterprise but with a lot of expertise in plastic recycling. DMS represents well potential users of the plastoformer. The exertise they have is much harder to find in developing countries and is an asset for this pilot project in which part of the coaching and assistance will happen from distance.
Project Plan
The pilot will be carried out in three phases: Phase 1: Development of a mould according to the wishes of Mamadou (rulers & school-supplies); visit to Senegal to introduce the plastoformer (Deltares) – April 2018 Phase 2: Coaching of Mamadou from distance; development of training material and manual; development of other moulds; visit to Senegal to optimize the process and improve business capacity of Mamadou; market studies of possible products, training of 5-10 entrepreneurs (Deltares, WASTE, plastic fantastic) – May 2018 Phase 3: Coaching of Mamadou from distance; presentation of findings in a report Aug 2018
Target group
Entrepreneurs interested in plastic recycling
Overview of Goals
The overall goal of the project is to obtain a strategy how to scale plastic recycling using the plastoformer based on the pilot in Senegal.
Results and indicators
- The overall goal of the project is to obtain a strategy how to scale plastic recycling using the plastoformer based on the pilot in Senegal.
- Entrepreneurs trainined in plastic recycling