As waste management remains a major development challenge in Ghana, several problems including lack of garbage collection bins, waste sorting at points of generation, irregular collection, and poor engagements among stakeholders in the waste management ecosystem have been reported.

Particularly with the 500ml sachet bags known on the streets as “pure water” being one of the major sources of pollution, posing substantial environmental threats to society, sorting at source, where the waste is generated is an important practice for supporting recycling and the circular economy.

In that regard, Play Soccer Ghana is partnering with Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) in Nigeria to implement the “ENVIRONETS Project” from June 2023 to April 2024 in Bakaano and Dehia of Cape Coast in the Central Region. This project provides skills training to young adults on how to protect the environment by reusing water sachets to produce goal nets.

An innovative re-use of water sachet plastics will reduce the amount of plastic waste in the communities. Through this project, young people will learn how to reuse plastics to produce goal post nets and also gain knowledge on best practices on waste disposal to protect and keep the environment clean So far, 68.4 kg of water sachet rubbers have been reused to produced 10 football goal post nets which have been donated some schools, communities and Institutions including the Central regional Fire service station in Cape Coast to promote the game of football and promote physical activities.

Other activities of the project include activity sessions to educate children on proper waste disposal and sorting, engagements among stakeholders in the waste management ecosystem, sensitization of households to sort waste, donation of clean up items to communities and monthly clean-up exercises across intervention communities.

Play Soccer Ghana, a sport for development Non-Governmental Organization which implements community initiatives to improve the lives of less privilege in society and equipping the children with the requisite life skills needed for their healthy development into skilled, capable, educated and responsible adults and thus become agents of change within their communities as well as act as a catalyst for community development on a whole. The Head office is in Cape Coast in the Central region. Its Board Chairman Mr. Kwaku Awotwi and Vice Nana Sam Brew Butler, other members of the Play Soccer Ghana Board of Directors include Dr. Jimmy Heymann, Mr. Ellis Quarshie, Mrs. Georgina Quaisie, Mr. Andrew Simpson and Ms. Ama Gyamfua Abrefa.