Image of the preparation process
“Not only are plastics polluting our oceans and waterways and killing marine life – it is in all of us and we ca not escape consuming plastics.” – Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International.
Plastic waste management is a visible problem in Ghana. Waste management remains a challenge, with blocked drainage systems leading to flooding. It is a major and significant environmental and health issue.
Only 2% to 5% of the roughly a million tons of plastic waste Ghanaians produce each year is adequately recycled. The infrastructure needed to safely dispose of plastic waste is lacking in many areas of the nation. The fact that Ghana is one of the top 10 most polluted nations in the world indicates how serious the issues are.
Each year, Ghana imports around 2.58 million metric tonnes of raw plastic, 73% of which is wasted. Only up to 5% of plastic garbage gets recycled; the remainder accumulates in the environment, is disposed of in landfills, and approximately 30% ends up in the ocean.
The lack of proper waste management systems means recycling is not an option, resulting in plastic waste materials being left to accumulate in open dumpsites around communities, rivers, and the ocean. In many places, communities such as Glefe at Dansoman, Okornyain Somanya, and communities around the ocean try to solve this issue by burning the waste or dumping them in the sea, which also causes another environmental crisis due to the toxic gases released into the atmosphere or the ocean.
The situation of plastic garbage in Ghana is a serious environmental concern that needs to be addressed immediately by all parties involved. It is essential to implement sustainable waste management procedures throughout the nation, including a system for gathering, sorting, and processing garbage. Through informing the public about the effects of plastic waste and urging them to adopt sustainable lifestyles.
Due to this issue, many stakeholders both locally and intentionally have taken numerous initiatives to address this crisis.
Trash to Cash Initiative
Currently, the green youth organization (Gayo), La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly, and Sesa Recycling have partnered to launch an initiative aimed at managing plastic waste and recycling it into products that can generate income and become a valuable source of employment for impoverished communities in the country.
The initiative coined “Trash to Cash,” is centred around encouraging the separation of plastic waste materials from household waste, and raising awareness about the negative effects of improper plastic disposal.
The partnership is between the Green Youth Organization (Gayo), a non-profit organization that addresses environmental issues, and Sesa Recycling, a social enterprise that focuses on creating sustainable livelihoods and environments. This partnership is a collaborative effort to tackle the rising plastic waste crisis in Ghana.
Over 500 residents from three selected communities (Tashie, La and Osu) within Accra have benefited from this initiative. The organisation has empowered women and the youth by providing them with training that leaves them with the skill needed to effectively segregate and manage plastic waste properly in a bid to safeguard the environment from further destruction.
They have established local recycling centres within the communities where individuals or a group of people go around residential areas, and landfill sites, collect plastic waste such as bottles, containers, and other recyclable items, and bring them there and exchange them for money.
They have also employed individuals (women and men) who are in charge of sorting, cleaning, and preparation of the plastic waste, the cleaning and sorting of the plastic ensure that the plastic is recycled into appropriate materials.
Patience Doelogo one of the participants revealed that the initiative has been a game-changer in the community. “Before we started collecting plastic waste, many of us, including myself and other community members, struggled with unemployment. It was difficult to make ends meet and provide for our families. However, since we started this initiative, everything has changed for the better. When we began collecting plastic waste and selling it to the local recycling centre, it opened up employment opportunities” she said.
Ms. Patience added that people in the community, including myself, started going around residential areas, public spaces, and even landfill sites to gather plastic waste. Sorted it and prepared it for recycling, creating jobs for them.
“We also started collaborating with businesses and institutions, collecting their plastic waste as well. This significant increase in employment has improved our financial stability and given us the means to support our families,” she said.
Plastic waste collection has also made local people more environmentally conscious. As the majority are actively involved in collecting and properly disposing of plastic waste, which directly contributes to reducing environmental pollution and its harmful effects on the environment.
Due to the environmental consequences of plastic, the community is committed to preventing it from ending up in landfills or polluting the natural ecosystem.
Other beneficiaries who I spoke with on my visit to the site remarked that it is fulfilling to know they play a part in creating a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations.
This is in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6): Ensure access to water and sanitation for all. Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is the most basic human need for health and well-being.
The initiative they say has fostered a sense of unity and collaboration within the community as they work together toward achieving the common goal of making our surroundings cleaner and more sustainable.
Desmond Alugnoa, co-founder of Gayo established that plastic bottles and other reusable items, once collected and processed through recycling centres, can be recycled into various new products such as new plastic bottles, food storage plastic containers, reusable containers and packaging, reusable bags, mats and furniture.
Also, the specific recycling process depends on the type of plastic being recycled. It is imperative to note that the availability of recycling options and the specific products produced from recycled plastic may vary depending on local recycling capabilities, market demand, and the recycling facilities in your area.
The process of recycling plastic items helps create a closed-loop system, reducing the need for virgin plastic production and minimizing the environmental impact associated with plastic waste. This initiative is in response to lingering waste management issues in Ghana and is part of the zero-waste Accra project implemented by Gayo to implement a zero-waste management strategy aimed at delivering green jobs.
The initiative has seen success, with recycled plastic products such as bags, mats, and furniture being made and sold in various markets in Ghana.
The transformation of waste into high-value products has also been quite impressive, generating income but also reducing plastic waste in the environment.
By Dorcas Ansah (Unimac-GIJ)
ansahdorcas1927@gmail.com