How Used Plastic Is Being Turned Into School Desks in Ghana

In Ghana, an entrepreneur is finding a practical way to deal with plastic waste while helping schools provide students with something they need every day.

Makafui Awuku has been collecting discarded plastic sachets and transforming the material into school desks. His work is part of a wider effort to reduce waste by giving unwanted materials a useful second life.

Plastic sachets are widely used for drinking water and other products, but many are thrown away after a single use. When they are not properly collected, they can contribute to litter and pollution in communities.

Instead of allowing the plastic to become waste, Awuku’s initiative processes it into material that can be used to manufacture furniture for schools.

The idea connects two problems that communities often face at the same time: managing growing amounts of plastic waste and providing adequate equipment for children in schools.

The project also demonstrates how recycling can go beyond simply collecting rubbish. By turning discarded plastic into useful products, entrepreneurs can create a practical reason for people to see waste as a resource rather than something with no value.

For schools, the desks provide a tangible benefit. For communities, the initiative offers another example of how local ideas can address environmental problems while supporting everyday needs.

The story is featured by the BBC’s People Fixing The World, which highlights people developing creative solutions to common problems around the world.

Source: BBC World Service, People Fixing The World, “Clever ways to cut waste”