GULU | CLIMATE CHANGE | PLASTICS | OKWOKO

To conserve the environment and improve public health, Takataka Plastics is transforming waste into quality, affordable construction materials and, in turn, creating jobs. 

The small industry collects used plastic bottles from streets, homes, and public places, and turns them into wall tiles, plastic chairs, and coasters. 

Takataka is a Green Schools Initiative project being financed by the Swedish Embassy through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. 

It highlighted the impact of climate change and showcased the best practices across the country. Peter Okwoko, a co-founder and chief operating officer at Takataka Plastics, said he started recycling in 2020 when he was lecturing at Gulu University. 

Peter Okwoko, a co-founder and chief operating officer Takataka plastics holding sample of tiles made from plastic bottles.

He said he did thorough research on plastic bottles and saw a gap in their waste management. 

“We collect used plastic bottles and recycle them into wall tiles as our main product." We also turn plastic into furniture (plastic chairs), coasters, and flower pots. "During the coronavirus pandemic, we had been making face shields,” he said. 

Okwoko said his background is not in waste management; he did information and communication technology (ICT), but because he is passionate about the environment, he is working with the youth to conserve it. 

“I plan to have a world where waste is transformed into resources and communities are empowered. "We locally transform plastic waste into quality, affordable construction materials, improving the environment as well as public health and closing a loop in the circular economy,” he said.

Okwoko said he got the inspiration when he went to the US and Asia and learned how they handle their waste. 

Peter Okwoko, a co-founder and chief operating officer Takataka plastics showing used plastic bottles that they have collected to run theyr recycle industry.

He said besides conserving the environment, he is fighting youth unemployment. His company employs 37 youths to collect plastic waste bottles. 

Okwoko says people have poor waste management habits and dump plastic bottles anywhere, with total disregard for the environment. 

“We are developing groundbreaking technologies to safely process plastic waste, changing people’s mindset from untouchable, dirty “rubbish” to a potential resource, thereby impacting the environment and lives of youth,” he says.

How Takataka is preserving the environment

Okwoko explains that most people pollute the environment by burning plastic waste, which is a health hazard. 

some of the plastic bottles that were constructed as wall. pix by Jackson Kitara

He adds that Takataka, loosely translated to mean small useless stuff," has lined up several interventions to mitigate the effects of climate change, including community engagement and sensitization on proper waste management practices. 

“We are sensitizing the community at public places such as markets, schools, and universities on proper waste management practices. We prevented 46 metric tons of plastic bottles from contaminating the environment by collecting and recycling them,” Okwoko says. 

He says they reached out to 1.1 million people through their sensitization teams on waste management. 

Okwoko adds that he trained 1,000 pupils and 30 university students in waste management under their internship program. 

He says they are working with interns to facilitate workshops on plastic recycling and waste management in schools. 

Okwoko says they are training the learners in waste management, as well as trauma counseling. He says they also employed 54 people. Out of these, 26 are vulnerable young people from the streets who need help picking up used plastic bottles to run the factory. 

sample of chair made from plastic bottle.

Okwoko appeals to leaders to work together with different partners on environmental conservation sustainability such as students, saying it will help in changing the mindset of community members. 

He points out that leaders need to be exemplary in waste management so that people follow what they see from their leaders. 

“People dump waste anyhow because our leaders do not take waste management seriously,” Okwoko says. 

Michael Christopher Ocan, the Gulu city environment officer, says all the activities they do are in line with climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

He says they are emphasizing conserving natural wetlands to capture and store carbon to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases and provide resilience to hazards such as flooding and storm surges.

“Gulu city is not recycling waste. We only collect, transport, and dump waste at the refill site. The city only collects 40% of the organic waste and 60% of the waste is still within the community, causing enormous issues,” Ocan says. 

He adds that according to research, by 2050, the number of plastic bottles in the seas and oceans will be more than fish due to poor waste disposal. 

Ocan says Gulu city plans to sort and recycle waste, adding that only private companies such as Takataka Plastics and Green Home are adding value to waste to produce resourceful materials.

Peter Okwoko, a co-founder and chief operating officer Takataka plastics showing some of wall tilesmade from plastic bottle that they put on display.

Alfred Okwonga, the Gulu city mayor, says they want to start sorting waste so that it is all recycled. 

“At the moment, we are working with the private sector in waste management. "They are helping in collecting waste and recycling it into other products such as tiles, plastic pavers, and plastic blocks,” he says. 

Okwonga says the organizations are conserving the environment as well as creating jobs for unemployed people, in turn increasing household income.

Residents speak out

Grace Akello, a resident of the Pece-Laroo division, says the waste management by Takataka Plastics has helped in environmental protection and conservation. She says people like dumping plastic bottles, which block the drainages and cause floods on the roads and streets. 

“From picking up litter on the streets, clean-up activities lead to changes in attitudes towards environmental sustainability and encourage the adoption of practices that can have a profound effect on waste management,” she says. 

Santo Okot, a resident of Tegwana cell in Gulu city, says waste management provides employment opportunities to the youth, thereby changing their lives. 

“Our leaders should come up with laws to regulate the disposal of waste. Our area is safe because whenever we get any used plastic bottle, we take it and drop it in the container that Takataka has put for collection.”