Ghana faces a significant waste management challenge, especially in urban areas. Less than 40% of urban residents have access to solid waste collection services, and less than 30% have acceptable household toilet facilities.
This inadequate waste management leads to environmental pollution, hindering economic development and posing public health risks.
Based on a report Ghana submitted to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, this article explores the causes of this crisis and outlines potential solutions.
Root Causes of the Waste Management Crisis
The waste management crisis in Ghana stems from a combination of factors, including:
- Rapid urbanization and changing consumption patterns: The growing urban population and shifts in consumption habits have led to increased waste generation.
- Insufficient investment in waste infrastructure: There’s a reluctance from both the District Assemblies and the private sector to invest in waste infrastructure due to uncertainties in planning, lack of enforcement of regulations, and poor coordination of waste management programs.
- Inadequate financial resources: Economic constraints and poverty in rural communities limit funding for waste management systems. Additionally, unreliable waste collection services lead to resistance from households to pay for waste management services, further reducing the funding available to collection agencies.
- Lack of skilled personnel: The waste management sector lacks sufficient human resources and training, making it difficult to attract qualified professionals and implement effective waste management policies.
- Negative public attitudes: The perception that the government is solely responsible for waste management and a lack of environmental awareness exacerbate the problem.
Government Interventions and Strategies
The government of Ghana has implemented various policies and strategies to address the waste management challenge:
- Policy and Legal Frameworks: The government has established policies and legal frameworks, including the Environmental Sanitation Policy, the Local Government Act, and the Environmental Assessment Regulations to regulate waste management.
- Institutional Support: Institutions such as the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; and the Ministry of Health provide guidelines and standards for waste management, technical support to district assemblies, and environmental quality monitoring.
- Environmental Education and Awareness: Capacity-building programs, seminars, and workshops raise awareness about waste management. Initiatives like the National Environmental Sanitation Day sensitize the public about keeping their environment clean.
- Waste Recovery, Recycling, and Reuse: Waste recycling has emerged as a viable economic option. Some industries use recycling technologies to reduce waste, minimize the need for treatment, and decrease raw material and energy consumption. Municipal waste operations are considering integrating scavengers, who play a crucial role in recycling.
Proposed Solutions and Strategies
The sources outline several strategies for a more integrated and effective waste management system in Ghana:
- Community-based Waste Management: This approach involves employing community members to collect, process, and dispose of waste, with households paying sustainable fees to support the system. This system could create employment opportunities and promote community ownership of waste management.
- Financial Resource Mobilization: Ghana recommends
- We are promoting waste segregation, reuse, and recycling among households.
- We are customizing user charges to residents’ environmental awareness and financial capacity.
- We are investigating financial tools like volume-based waste disposal fees, landfill disposal fees for industrial and municipal waste, and tax breaks to encourage private sector involvement in waste treatment facilities.
- We are linking waste management charges to other utility services, charging for dumping at landfill sites, incorporating charges into property rates, and introducing indirect charges via the sale of polythene bags for waste disposal.
- Technological Advancement: We are establishing a planning unit within the Waste Management Departments of the Assemblies to analyze waste data, review current practices, and recommend appropriate technologies and actions.
- Research and Indigenous Knowledge: Promoting research into affordable, practical, and workable waste management technologies, including recycling, biogas technology, composting, incineration, and waste-to-energy technologies.
Emerging Trends and Issues
The sources highlight several emerging trends and issues in waste management:
- Waste Composting Technologies: The high percentage of organic material in Ghana’s municipal solid waste presents composting as a viable option for management.
- Methane Gas Capture from Landfills: Capturing methane from landfills offers a potential source of energy. We could design existing and future landfills to maximize methane recovery.
- Plastic Waste Menace: The increasing amount of plastic waste, particularly plastic bottles, polythene bags, sachets, and wrappers, presents a significant challenge. The lack of recycling facilities exacerbates the problem.
- Electronic Waste: The growing influx of obsolete electronic equipment from developed countries poses environmental and health risks. Ghana is collaborating with international partners to improve e-waste control and is conducting a nationwide e-waste inventory.
The sources emphasize the need for an integrated approach to waste management in Ghana, involving all stakeholders, including government institutions, the private sector, and individual citizens. Implementing the recommended solutions and addressing emerging issues are crucial for mitigating the negative impacts of waste and creating a sustainable waste management system.
