PRI (Plastic Recycling Industries) Kampala

Plastic Recycling Industries Ltd. (PRI) has finalised the last result of the PSI subsidy project (RVO Netherlands program) on the 29th of February 2008. That day it produced 651 tonnes of recycled post consumer plastic waste. Both directors, Mr. Driessen and Mr. Somani, were present and signed the Protocol of Production with great pride.

Since its start PRI has gained much respect and reputation in Kampala. Many Governmental and non-governmental organisations have visited PRI. CNN made a short news item for CNN World report, several Ugandan ministers have visited, Bill Gates Foundation came by, UNIDO paid a visit in February 2008 and BUDS (Private Sector Foundation Uganda) has offered to assist in financing new machinery for the spin off. Most hotels in Kampala collect their plastic bottles for PRI to pick them up. Hospitals
collect all their plastic waste and their drip bottles and many organisations are collecting for themselves for sale to PRI. PRI has established itself in the market, is know throughout Kampala and exports successfully to China.

One major positive effect is that HDPE (jerry cans, yogurt containers etc.) is mostly sold and consequently re-used locally. Many companies producing HDPE products send their factory waste to PRI to be recycled so that they can mix it back into new production. They now have to import much less virgin material into Uganda, saving on costs,
transport and indirectly on environment impact. Another very positive effect is the creation of direct but mostly indirect employment on a relatively large scale. PRI estimates that at least 600 persons have gained a new living through collection and sales of post consumer waste. Many women have made it their job to collect plastic waste and deliver to PRI on a daily basis.

A special note: As this was Patrizia Sterenberg's second project and initiated by herself we like to discribe how this came about:

How did it start?

Mrs. Sterenberg Salinas, regularly working in Kampala, encountered the obvious problem of bottles littered in the streets of Kampala and saw an opportunity for a PSOM/PSI project by recycling and adding value to waste. She called the number which was printed on one of the water bottles and asked to meet the Director of the company. This was Mr. Somani. Mr. Somani of Rwenzori also had a desire since many years to, as a producer of plastics, take corporate responsibility and contribute to the solution of discarded waste. Both Mrs. Sterenberg Salinas and Mr. Somani joined hands and Mrs. Sterenberg Salinas matched Mr. Somani with a partner : Plastic Herverwerking Brabant from The Netherlands.

Since September 2004 both PHB and Rwenzori have been discussing how best to develop plastic recycling activities together in Uganda. The discussion also embraced the approach of developing an appropriate collection system. Both partners saw a viable opportunity for the recycling of plastic post consumer waste in Uganda.

A PSOM proposal was submitted to the EVD in The Hague in August 2005 and was rewarded a PSOM subsidy in December 2005 ( as 50% subsidy on investment for Pilot Projects in Developing countries)

Plastic Recycling Industries (Uganda) Ltd would was legally formed beginning of 2006.

Update for 2016: PRI Ltd. was purchased by SAB MILLER around two years ago. PRI is still running and they have installed a new water treatment system and are producing 3.000 MT a month approx.