BACKGROUND

Poor waste management remains one of big problem Malawi as a nation is encountering to minimize its negative impact. Waste innovations which has a potential to change the mind-set of people in the communities has not yet been scaled up my both innovators and organisations to create space for recycling and learning .On the other hand, an increased paper production continues giving the pressure on the world’s forests that are already in a critical state – and constantly getting worse .From 2001 to 2019, a total of 386 million hectares of forest were lost globally (in all forest types combined). This loss represents an almost 10 % decrease in tree cover since 2000. Though Malawi as a nation has not done enough on paper waste assessment , Paper accounts for around 26% of total waste at landfills. Paper production causes deforestation, uses enormous amounts of energy and water, and contributes to air pollution and waste problems. In schools , offices and stationary centres , papers represents almost 60% of the waste which commonly found and generated . Despite the fact that there is increased paper waste in schools , stationary shops and offices , but little is being done to reuse and recycle these waste papers. This results into poor sanitation within the surrounding areas and cause land during disposal and air pollution when they are being burnt .YASD with support from MIET Africa implemented an initiative of training schools in paper waste recycling starting with NGOWE CDSS as a model school. The activity was for three days starting from 4th May – 6th May 2022.

OBJECTIVES

  1. To promote the concept of recycling in schools through the recycling of waste papers into papers and toilet tissues as an eco- friendly product while promoting good sanitation
  2. To empower young people and school learners with skills in waste innovations and changing their mindset towards waste management

ACTIVITIES

  1. Establishing paper recycling bins in school for the paper to be discarded as well as collection
  2. Training the selected school learners in making toilet tissues from paper wastes
  3. Training the learners about different waste innovations generated within schools.

DISCUSSIONS

  • In today’s electronic age, people are starting to consider going paperless. But there’s still a long way to go before we lose our dependence on this very important human product.
  • From our newspapers to our paper wrappings and paper exams to electronic/computing ones, paper is still everywhere and most of them are ending up in our landfills creating a staggering amount of paper waste even within the school or office surroundings.
  • There was a time when paper was a rare and precious commodity. Now it fills our planet, our environment and waste innovation suits the status.
  • The school headmaster said that for now, Instead of throwing or burning these waste papers from offices and school campus, these papers will be collected and recycled to make Eco- friendly toilet tissues and actual papers. These toilet tissues are/will be of good quality both in terms of coarseness and texture making them comfortable to the user.

Materials used ;

  1. An electronic iron
  2. Old mosquito net
  3. Paper cutter
  4. Shredder
  5. Simple screen
  6. Buckets
  7. Clean sheet and Hand mixer

Successes

  • A three day gtraining session was successfully done without any disturbance
  • The school learners grasped the knowledge in paper making as they demonstrated it in practice.
  • Support from teachers was impressive from the beginning.

Recommendations

  • MIET Africa should continue supporting YASD in building climate literacy to the school leaners as well as in the communities.
  • Waste innovations should be promoted at all levels.