By Kemo Cham
The second edition of the annual Go Circular Week commenced in Freetown on Thursday with calls for greater private sector investment in innovative approaches to maintain a clean environment.
Officials from relevant government ministries, departments and agencies concerned about the environment gathered at the Conference hall of the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel alongside partner private sector organizations for the official launch of a weeklong activities designed to raise awareness about the impact of plastic wastes and seek innovative and sustainable environmental solutions.
The event entailed speeches, exhibitions and cultural display by the National Dance Troupe of Sierra Leone.
Plastic waste is one of the top four biggest environmental challenges facing Sierra Leone, according to government and environmental campaigners, as illustrated particularly in urban communities like Freetown.
Data shared by the government show that Sierra Leone generates 130, 000 tonnes of plastic every year, with only 7,000 of that disposed-off properly. Single use plastic is said to be a huge part of this problem. The tourism sector alone, one of the areas largely affected by the phenomenon, generates 42 million pieces of plastic wastes yearly, the data shows. And only six percent of this is recycled.
The rest of this end up in the environment, including in beaches, where they affect marine lives.
Go circular is a testament of the country’s commitment in its effort to strengthen circularity and the circular economy by reducing the use of single use plastic in communities and generally promote environmental sustainability for meaningful growth and development, said Mary Jalloh, Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDEP).
“We are not only risking our environment, we are also risking our livelihoods,” she said of the current state of indiscriminate dumping of plastic wastes in the country.
The Ministries of Tourism and Environment are collaborating with mainly private sector partners, under the World Bank funded SLEDEP, in the Go Circular initiative, which primarily seeks to promote private sector participation in efforts against plastic wastes.
SLEDEP’s overall objective is to increase investment and growth of small and medium enterprises in non-mining productive sectors of the country.
Louise Twinnning-Ward, tourism expert and Senior Private Sector Specialist at the World Bank, saidthe eyesores plastic wastes create also affect the tourist sector, calling for concerted efforts to address it.
“The World Bank is committed to supporting initiatives that support sustainable development and environmental stewardship. This circular week is really a testament to our commitment,” she said, noting that the country has the potential to lead and not just follow in the fight against this form of environmental pollution.
“By embracing circular economy, it’s not just banning items, it’s creating a new economy, creating jobs out of wastes, turning wastes into wealth, supporting local businesses and contributing to the local economic development,” she said.
The Ministry of Tourism declared 2025 as the Year of eco-Tourism, which is in line with the country’s Blue Economy strategy, and officials say this calls for concentrated efforts towards promoting the country as a major destination for tourism and hospitality.
Kadijatu Kamara, Deputy Minister of Tourism, has a lot of personal experience to share as a creative herself. She wore some of her products – pants made using rice bags and seashells – a testament to her commitment to the call for circularity, she said.
Kamara said that Sierra Leone has a large verse of young people who are creatives who know how to use recyclable materials and turn them into beautiful artifacts, urging this group of people to endeavor to harness their talents.
“The circular economy calls us to rethink how we use and manage our resources by reducing wastes, reusing materials and regenerating our environment,” she told the audience that included creatives, students and private sector business owners involved in the recycling industry.
This weeklong event entails panel discussions, exhibition of innovative plastic recycling projects, engagement with the private sector players, climaxing with an award ceremony to recognize businesses with innovative ideas about sustainable environmental solutions for plastic wastes.
