Ghana’s waste management faces considerable challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, urbanization, minimal recycling rates, and poor waste disposal methods. According to Ghana’s Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, 13,000 metric tons of solid daily, with only approximately 60% collected in urban regions and even lower rates in rural areas. Plastic waste poses a major problem, with approximately 2,000 metric tons generated daily, of which merely 10% undergoes recycling. This situation obstructed drainage systems, increased flooding, and pollution of marine environments. Again, organic waste, making up roughly 61% of municipal waste, is rarely composted or reused, contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Electronic waste, particularly in areas like Agbogbloshie, releases toxic chemicals as a result of poor disposal practices (Acquah et al., 2019). Moreover, industrial hazardous waste often contaminates municipal waste systems. These problems are worsened by practices such as open dumping and burning, weak enforcement of regulations, budget constraints, and a general lack of public awareness.
In the lively coastal city of Cape Coast, Ghana, where a rich cultural legacy intersects with the pressures of swift urban development, a dedicated group operates quietly to protect the environment. These individuals, known as waste pickers, are the unsung champions who confront perilous conditions each day to gather, sort, and recycle materials, preventing waste from entering the Atlantic Ocean and reducing environmental damage. However, their contributions are accompanied by significant challenges: insufficient safety measures, a lack of awareness regarding best practices, and the absence of formal acknowledgment render them susceptible to various risks.
Cape Coast generates an alarming 166 tons of solid waste each day, a substantial portion of which is deposited at the extensive 70-acre Nkanfoa dumpsite (Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly). This waste buildup poses serious environmental and health risks due to the lack of proper segregation and management practices. Waste pickers, frequently without adequate protective equipment and safety protocols, risk their well-being in recovering recyclable materials.
The findings of our baseline study indicate that 70% of waste pickers do not possess sufficient knowledge regarding safe and effective waste management practices, which further intensifies their vulnerable working conditions. Addressing these challenges requires improved infrastructure, stricter policy enforcement, increased investment in recycling, and public education to foster sustainable waste management practices.
These problems necessitate immediate intervention, and the Beyond Waste Initiative serves as our proactive solution.
The Beyond Waste Initiative aimed at empowering waste pickers through skills training and advocacy. By equipping them with knowledge, tools, and alternative livelihoods, we aim to:
• Improve their health, income, and dignity.
• Promote environmentally sustainable waste management practices.
• Advocate for integrating waste pickers into the formal waste management system.
At Green Growth Africa, we believe in the power of inclusive and sustainable solutions. This is why the Beyond Waste Initiative (BWI) is here, a groundbreaking project aimed at empowering waste pickers in Cape Coast, enhancing waste management practices, and establishing a circular economy that serves both individuals and the environment.
