Published: February 4, 2026
Gbarnga, Bong County – Like many other cities across Liberia, plastic waste in the streets of Gbarnga, central Liberia, has become an everyday occurrence, posing mounting discomfort and health threats. From marketplaces to roadside corners, discarded water sachets, bottles, and plastic bags often litter the city.
For many residents, improper plastic disposal has become normal — largely due to the lack of public trash cans and waste management systems. But environmental experts warn that this growing problem carries serious risks, from blocked drainage systems to pollution and health hazards.
Now, one youth-led initiative is taking action to change that narrative.
A Young Founder With a Vision
Genesis Kolliemene, a young Liberian and Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Positive Transformation Initiative (YOPTI), is leading an innovative campaign to tackle plastic pollution in Gbarnga.“We cannot continue to ignore the damage plastics are doing to our environment,” he says.
YOPTI has begun collecting plastic waste from the streets and transforming it into rubber ties — a creative recycling solution that not only reduces waste but also creates useful products.
Trash to Treasure: A New Approach
The initiative is part of a pilot phase programme “Trash to Treasure,” launched in 2025. According to Genesis, the project was made possible through funding from the Fund for Legal Human Rights, through Legal Empowerment Fund.
The programme was created in response to Liberia’s growing waste crisis and the urgent need to provide young people with practical, income-generating skills.
It is a youth-led eco-entrepreneurship initiative designed to transform plastic and carton waste into locally made, marketable products — including decorative art, briquettes, furniture, paving tiles, and household items.
“We recruited 25 young people to benefit from the programme,” Genesis explains. “They are being taught how to turn plastic waste into renewable products like rubber ties and flower pots.”
Beyond plastics, participants are also learning how to repurpose old cartons into desks, shelves, and other useful materials. The training focuses on safe waste collection, sorting techniques, upcycling methods, and eco-friendly product development. It also includes leadership training and business skills, helping participants explore sustainable micro-enterprises within their own communities.
Kolliemene says the programme is working to shift public attitudes.
The goal, Genesis explains, is to move people away from seeing waste only as a problem — and towards recognizing it as an opportunity for innovation and economic inclusion.
From Pollution to Productivity
The process starts with volunteers gathering plastics from busy areas across the city. These materials, once considered worthless, are sorted and repurposed into durable rubber ties.
The initiative is helping to clean up Gbarnga’s streets, giving the city a facelift while also raising awareness about responsible waste disposal.
For many residents, the change is noticeable.
“Before, the streets were full of plastic,” Sarah Sumo, a market woman explains. “Now, we are seeing young people cleaning and doing something meaningful with it.”
A City Facing a Waste Crisis
Plastic disposal remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges in Gbarnga. Without proper infrastructure, marketers and residents often drop waste in open spaces, unaware of the long-term consequences. Open burning of plastics and unmanaged dumpsites remain common across Liberia, creating serious health risks, especially for vulnerable populations.
Environmental advocate Lawrence Yallah says such practices contribute to flooding, soil degradation, and increased disease outbreaks. Yallah holds a master’s degree in Environmental Education and Management from a Canadian university.
Measurable Impact on the Ground
Despite being in its early stages, Trash to Treasure is already producing tangible results.
During the training period, organizers say more than 2,577 kilograms of plastic sachets and bottles were diverted away from open dumping sites and waterways. In addition, around 350 kilograms of carton waste were collected and repurposed.
The programme has produced more than 80 upcycled products, including eco-tiles, flower vases, desks, and shelves.
Organizers report that all participants demonstrated improved understanding of waste management, safety practices, and basic eco-business concepts.
Empowering Youth Through Innovation
Genesis believes the effort is about more than cleaning streets — it is also about empowering young people with skills and opportunities.
“At the end of the project, each beneficiary will unveil what they have produced to the public,” he says. “This will serve as empowerment for them as they return to their communities.”
With continued donor support, the organization hopes to expand the programme to other parts of Gbarnga, reaching more young people and strengthening the city’s fight against plastic pollution.
Youth Positive Transformation Initiative’s work is being praised as an example of young Liberians stepping up to address national challenges through innovation.
Genesis believes the effort is about more than cleaning streets.
This is about protecting our environment and inspiring others to take responsibility,” he says.
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