In a collective effort to combat plastic pollution and environmental degradation in Sierra Leone, Orange Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), successfully concluded the 2025 Orange Green Run Marathon on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

The event, held under the theme: “Engage for Earth: Say No to Plastic,” brought together hundreds of participants who started at Cotton Tree and ran or walked to the finish line at Kallon Car Park on Aberdeen Beach.

The marathon aimed to raise awareness about the growing threat of single-use plastics and to promote sustainable waste management practices across the country.Speaking after the race, Dr. Abubakarr Massaquoi, Executive Chairman of EPA, expressed gratitude to Orange Sierra Leone for its support and commitment to environmental sustainability.

“We want to make this an annual event,” he said. “We’ve also made a promise to turn this Green Run into an eco-festival.”Dr. Abubakarr Massaquoi painted a picture of the plastic crisis in Sierra Leone, noting that Freetown alone produces 130,000 tons of waste annually, with 85 percent of it improperly managed.

He emphasized that plastics are not only clogging the city’s drainages and causing floods during the rainy season but are also posing severe health and economic risks.“The consistent burning of plastics has led to three to five times higher levels of dioxins in the environment,” he said.

“According to the World Health Organization, this has contributed to brain development issues, speech delays and lung impairment in children; about 95 percent of which are linked to plastic pollution.”He noted that plastic pollution has also hurt Sierra Leone’s tourism sector, especially by polluting the country’s beaches.Edwin Baimba, a Director at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, said the Government is actively working to address the plastic problem through a national plastic policy, which was approved by Cabinet in 2023 after a series of nationwide consultations funded by the World Bank.

“This policy is focused mainly on single-use plastics,” he said. “Our vision is to completely phase out plastic waste while promoting recycling to create employment and drive economic growth.”He added that a draft legislation is currently with the Law Officers Department.

The implementation plan includes setting up a governance structure, defining an institutional framework and designing a financial mechanism to support the initiative.“We want companies involved in plastic production to be accountable,” Edwin Baimba emphasized. “Plastic waste should not only be seen as a problem but also as an opportunity for economic empowerment, just like in other countries where entrepreneurs are turning plastic into jobs.”

Representing the private sector, Khalil Bansoon, Supply Chain Manager at Premier Environmental Solutions, announced the company’s ongoing construction of a facility capable of recycling 20 tons of plastic waste daily, with plans to add another 12-ton facility through international partnerships.

“For us, plastic waste is not a burden but a resource,” Khalil Bansoon said. “We are committed to building a circular economy, creating jobs and cleaning the environment, not in the future, but starting now.”

Khalil Bansoon also pointed out challenges such as limited support from local Government authorities and a delay in passing the plastic waste legislation.

“The process is burdening us in terms of investment, coordination and momentum, but we are determined to turn policy into action,” he added.

Alpha Bundu, Director of Customer Experience at Orange Sierra Leone, said the marathon was a demonstration of the company’s environmental responsibility and called on citizens, especially young people, to become change agents in the fight against plastic waste.

“Completing this run is more than just crossing the finish line,” Alpha Bundu said. “It symbolizes our shared commitment to healthier communities and a cleaner environment.”

He added that Orange collected 6.1 tons of waste from beaches last year and is now preparing to launch a circular economy program to recycle electrical and plastic waste.

Alpha Bundu urged the youth to return to their communities and educate others on the dangers of single-use plastics.The winner of the marathon, Gibrilla Kanu, encouraged his peers to join the cause. “I’m happy to have won this race,” he said.

“But more importantly, I’m calling on young people to help fight plastic pollution. It’s our environment and we must conserve it.”

The Green Run ended with a certification ceremony of top 3 winners of the race. Gibrilla Kanu took first position while Samuel Mansaray took second position and Amadu Sajor Samura in third position.