Waste management remains a significant challenge, with blocked drainage systems leading to flooding. Thus, making it a major is a significant environmental issue and health issue as well.Only 2% to 5% of the roughly a million tons of plastic waste that 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, goes to landfills, and approximately 30% ends up in the ocean.
The lack of proper waste managements systems means recycling is is not option, resulting is plastic wastes materials being left to accumulate in open dumpsites’ around communities, rivers and the ocean, in many places the communities such as GLefe at Dansoman, Okornyain Somanya and communities around the ocean try’s to solve this issues by burning the waste or dumping them is the sea, which also turn out to cause another environmental crisis due to the toxic gases that is release in to the atmosphere or the ocean.
The situation of plastic garbage in Ghana is a serious environmental concern that needs to be addressed right away by all parties involved.
It is essential to put in place 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 this issues many stakeholders both intentional and local have taken numerous initiatives to help menace this crisis. Currently, the green youth organization (Gayo), La Dade Kotopon municipal Assembly with Sesa recycling have partnered up in Ghana 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 the impoverished communities in the country.
the initiative Coined “Trash to Cash,” is centred around encouraging the separation of plastic waste materials from household’s waste, and raising awareness about the negative effects of improper disposal of plastics.
The partnership 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, Labadi and Osu) Within Accra has benefited from this initiative. This because the organisation has empowered women and the youth by providing them with training that leaves them with the skill that is needed to effectively segregate and manage plastic waste properly in a bid to safe guard the environment from further destruction.
They have established local recycling centres within the communities where the individuals or a group of people go around residential areas, landfill sites, collect plastic waste such as bottles, containers and other plastic items bring there and exchange for money, they have also employed individual (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 propriate materials.
It has also made me more environmentally conscious. By actively collecting and properly disposing of plastic waste, we contribute to reducing plastic pollution and its harmful effects on our environment.
We prevent plastic from ending up in landfills or polluting our natural ecosystems. It’s fulfilling to know that we are playing our part in creating a cleaner and healthier environment for future generation. The initiative has fostered a sense of unity and collaboration within our community.
We all work towards the common goal of making our surroundings cleaner and more sustainable. Collectively, we share a sense of responsibility for the environment and the well-being of our community. We support and motivate each other, build stronger relationships, and create a positive impact that extends beyond just collecting plastic waste.
My hope is that this initiative continues to thrive and expand. I want to see more members of our community involved, creating even more employment opportunities. I hope that our efforts in plastic waste collection and recycling inspire others to take action and adopt similar initiatives.
Together, we can make a significant difference in reducing plastic pollution, promoting sustainability, and creating a better future for our community and the environment as a whole.
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 to high-value products has also been quite impressive, not only generating income but also reducing the amount of plastic waste in the environment.
“Sustainable waste management is crucial to environmental protection and a healthy living environment, and homosexuality is the perfect example for the practice,” says the Environmental Protection Agency. “The initiative provides valuable insights and identifies practical actions pertinent to plastic waste management to serve as a model for other communities.”
Patience Bondzie
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.
