Recycling plastics, protecting the environment, and sustaining over 300 waste pickers.

“We were faced with a huge challenge during the covid-19 pandemic, our borders were closed, the business was threated to shout down in the face of reduced export earnings. We needed a survivor! During this critical period, Prospero provided the much-needed support through a COVID-19 relief grant of £20,031. This assistance enabled us to continue purchasing raw materials (bottle waste) and to continue operations despite the economic downturn”
Alpha Polyplast Limited, based in Ndola, is a company that specializes in recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles into polyester strapping used to secure and stabilize materials in various industries. As Zambia’s largest recycling company, Alpha Polyplast exports 85% of its products to regional markets, including South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Malawi, and Tanzania. The company also has a growing market for its product within Zambia. At the core of Alpha Polyplast’s operations is a commitment to reducing waste in Zambia. The company collaborates with plastic waste pickers across Lusaka, Ndola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Kasumbalesa, Kitwe, Chingola nd Solwezi, providing a sustainable market for PET bottle waste.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges for Alpha Polyplast, as border closures disrupted products exports, which are the company’s main source of operational capital. During this critical period, Prospero provided the much-needed support through a COVID-19 relief grant of £20,031. This assistance enabled the company to continue purchasing raw materials (bottle waste) and to continue operations despite the economic downturn.
Prospero’s support helped Alpha Polyplast preserve livelihoods by continuing to buy plastic bottles from over 300 waste pickers. This intervention ensured that individuals in vulnerable communities, many of whom are youths and women that rely solely on waste collection for income, continue earning a living as they sometimes earn even up to $450 per month. The grant also enabled Alpha Polyplast to sustain 73 full-time and 8 casual employees.
Alphapolyplast’s work demonstrates the transformative potential of recycling, both for the environment and for vulnerable communities. The collection of over a million tonnes of bottle waste has helped reduce plastic pollution in the communities and environmental degradation, as most of the bottles collected would have been burnt or left in the environment for many years.