PMI AIRS Bottle Recycling Cited as Model by USAID
In 2012 the PMI AIRS Project began recycling plastic insecticide bottles in Ghana, turning them into paving blocks. Recently, PMI AIRS was invited by USAID to give a presentation on its recycling program, recognizing the program’s potential value across USAID’s Health Bureau, as well as its possible application in agricultural projects.
In 2016, the Abt Global-led President’s Malaria Initiative Africa Indoor Spraying Project (PMI AIRS) surpassed 1 million plastic insecticide bottles recycled since the effort began in Ghana in 2012. This PMI AIRS’ innovation has recycled the bottles into useful products such as pavement blocks and dust bins.
PMI AIRS’ recycling program caught the eye of Rachel Dagovitz, USAID’s Global Health Bureau Environmental Officer, who is in charge of minimizing the negative environmental impacts of USAID global health programs while maximizing the positive social impacts. The officer first met with Peter Chandonait, a principal associate for International Health at Abt Global and director of environmental compliance and safety for PMI AIRS. Then Chandonait received the honor of an invitation to discuss PMI AIRS recycling initiatives at USAID.
Chandonait gave a presentation on July 21 at USAID’s Global Health Bureau on PMI AIRS recycling efforts across nine countries. The event was attended by the USAID Agency Environmental Coordinator (AEC) and other Bureau environmental officers. Afterwards, the AEC, who is the top environmental officer at USAID, requested a copy of the presentation, and permission to use a PMI AIRS video about the Ghana recycling program in future trainings.
Avoiding Hundreds of Tons of CO2 Emissions
Paving stones made from recycled insecticide bottles in Benin. The PMI AIRS Project has recycled more than 1 million plastic bottles in nine project countries. “We calculated that [PMI AIRS] recycling has avoided the emission of over 300 metric tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, as well as other noxious and possibly toxic emissions,” Chandonait said. “This was only possible due to the perseverance and creativity of the PMI AIRS in-country teams.”
Recycling has not always been a straightforward and easy process for PMI AIRS, Chandonait said. Some governments need to be convinced that this recycling is a clean and safe process, by testing for pesticide residues during the various processing steps. The cost of transporting the bottles can be an issue, and some recyclers charge fees for their services. However, in many places, raw plastic is a valuable commodity, and treated accordingly.
Recycling is not the only environmentally friendly innovation from PMI AIRS. Chandonait also helped develop the mobile soak pit, a five-gallon container with layers of foam, screening material, and activated granulated charcoal that removes traces of insecticide from wash waters. This allows PMI AIRS teams to reach remote populations, and still safely dispose of liquid waste generated by end-of-day cleanup activities.
Learn more about PMI AIRS:
- World Malaria Day 2016: Research That Drives Results
- Malaria Day 2015: Investing in the Defeat of Malaria
- Mobile Innovations for Malaria Prevention in Madagascar
- Article: Mobile Soak Pits Improve Spray Team Mobility, Productivity and Safety of PMI Malaria Control Program
- Article: Feasibility and Effectiveness of mHealth for Mobilizing Households for Indoor Residual Spraying to Prevent Malaria: A Case Study in Mali
- Video: Recycling Gives Insecticide Bottles New Use
