Stakeholders in the environmental sector have highlighted the importance of maximising waste to drive economic empowerment.

This advocacy took center stage during the launch of Recycle Up Ghana’s 10th-anniversary celebration, held at the ISSER Conference Hall at the University of Ghana.

Recycle Up Ghana has, since 2014, empowered the youth to develop local solutions to environmental and societal challenges.

The organisation's 10th anniversary brought together stakeholders in the environmental and entrepreneurship sectors, showcasing green solutions to pressing issues.

Speaking to JoyNews, the Project Coordinator for the Recycle Up Incubation Programme, Faustina Adomako Mensah stressed the importance of viewing recycling as a viable avenue for job creation and entrepreneurship development.

"We have the Recycle Up! Incubator Programme where we send out applications to people who have an interest in the circular economy to also come out with their fresh ideas because the idea is to take waste from the environment and transform it into something useful. But when they come to the Recycle Up Incubator Programme, we train them to refine those ideas to create a business, a business that is sustainable, a business that can create jobs for other people, a business that is taking out the waste that would have polluted the environment," she explained.

The incubation programme, currently in its fifth cohort, is nurturing participants to devise groundbreaking ways to maximize waste utilisation while promoting financial inclusion.

One of the keynote speakers was the chairperson of Ghana Hubs Network, Yaw Adu-Gyamfi.

He praised Recycle Up! Ghana for its efforts in advancing the green economy and fostering sustainability through impactful initiatives.

Recycle Up Ghana also published handbooks that will guide the teaching of the youth about waste management.

The theme for the event was ‘journey towards sustainability, reflecting and celebrating 10 years of progress.