Waste segregation: A beacon of hope in the management of solid waste in Ghana

Solid waste management is a global issue that cannot be overlooked if humans are to interact with their environment sustainably. World Bank estimates that globally, 2.01 billion tons of municipal solid waste is generated yearly. This figure is estimated to increase 70% to 3.4 billion tons by 2050 if drastic measures are not taken.

Ghana like other developing countries faces challenges in solid waste management as population increases. Ghana records about 12,710 tonnes of daily solid waste generated, with only 10% collected and disposed of properly. Currently, solid waste management practices by metropolitan and municipal authorities such as uncontrolled open space burning, landfills, incineration, etc. is reported to face many challenges from an environmental perspective and need a critical review.

Waste segregation is a beacon of hope when management of solid waste is considered due to the many advantages it holds if executed properly. It is the sorting and separation of waste types according to their characteristics to facilitate recycling and correct onward disposal. It is an initial step in managing waste at the source and is an integral part of the waste management process.

Waste segregation reduces the amount of waste that would have gone to the landfill. In Ghana, over 50% of waste collected is organic. When segregated, it can be used to make compost thereby reducing drastically waste that would have been dumped. Decomposition of organics releases methane gas into the atmosphere thereby increasing the effect of global warming. Through controlled conditions of waste segregation, methane gas released can collected and used as a fuel for ovens, homes, water heaters, etc. thereby reducing the overall impact of waste in the environment.

Waste segregation can also serve as a source of income for people. It enables individuals to identify valuable materials such as metals, and plastics and sell them to achieve the highest available rebate value. Many urban low-income individuals in Ghana make a living by sorting through garbage for reusable materials, cleaning it, and selling it up the value chain. If segregation is done at sources of waste generation, both waste generators and scavengers would benefit financially. Waste generators would pay less for waste collection and scavengers would also sell reclaimed waste as raw materials to recycling companies.

Waste segregation lowers waste cost. This is because hazardous waste and general waste are far more expensive to dispose of than dry mixed recycling due to chemicals and biological contaminants. Mixing clean recyclable items with hazardous waste means paying more to dispose of waste.

Although waste segregation comes with immense benefits, there are some hindrances that affect its full execution in Ghana. One reason is that there are no laws mandating citizens to segregate waste hence people cannot be punished if they do not segregate waste.

Some households in Ghana do not segregate waste generated because of inadequate receptacles to store different waste types. Some people living in compound houses do not have space to keep different waste receptacles hence their inability to segregate waste. 

Another reason for the low levels of waste segregation is that there is minimal incentive for individuals, households and companies. Waste collection companies contracted by the assemblies usually collect all waste into one truck and send it to the dumpsite. When people see how waste is handled, they feel reluctant to segregate their waste because they reckon that segregated waste would be mixed up and sent to the dumpsite. This would mean that all their efforts have gone down the drain.

Waste segregation is also not fully practiced in Ghana because education has not gone down with people about the importance of segregating waste. Through education, people are made to understand that waste can become a resource.

Waste segregation especially at the source of waste generation is a beacon of hope if binding laws on it are made and enforced, adequate receptacles are made available at household levels, substantive incentives given to people and bodies that segregate their waste and continual awareness creation and education. This would go a long way in reducing the costs of waste disposal.

The writer, Kiven Leslie Nii Nunoo Larkai, is an MSC Integrated Solidwaste Management Candidate at People's Friendship University of Russia