Waste menace: Some socioeconomic interventions from academia

The growing consumption of coconuts in Ghana has led to a surge in coconut husk waste, overwhelming current waste management systems and highlighting the urgent need for sustainable disposal solutions.

Some, however, see an opportunity to tap into the husks' economic potential. The concept of "waste as a resource" has gained traction recently, with prominent organisations and thought leaders advocating the economic and environmental benefits of repurposing waste materials.

An example is the establishment of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACaRP) which is the first state-of-the-art waste sorting and composting facility in West

Africa, as part of efforts to manage solid waste in Accra and utilise the “waste” to produce industrial materials such as organic compost, palletised plastics and baled cardboards.

Also, the World Economic Forum has emphasised that "waste is not just an environmental burden but a valuable resource" that can drive economic growth through innovative recycling and upcycling practices.

Similarly, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation highlights that transitioning to a circular economy, where waste is reintegrated into production cycles, could generate $4.5 trillion in economic benefits by 2030. 

Role of research

Academic research plays a crucial role in tackling environmental challenges by developing technologies to turn waste into valuable resources.

The brake pads with enhanced surface finish

At the University of Mines and Technology, researchers are transforming coconut shells into useful industrial products such as asbestos-free brake pads, as discussed below:

Development of Asbestos-Free Disc Brake Pad using coconut shell ash as base material by Dr Emmanuel Seckley, Prof. Anthony Simons and Prof. Akintunde O. Dahunsi.
Brake pads are a crucial component of an automobile braking system, playing a vital role in maintaining full control of the vehicle.

Chrysotile asbestos fibre, once popular in the past as a brake pad material, for its sound absorption, strength and flexibility, became a health concern in the 1970s due to its carcinogenic properties and disposal issues.

Many countries subsequently banned its use in friction materials, leading to extensive research on safer asbestos-free brake pads.

This shift has resulted in various brake pad compositions in recent years. Alternative raw materials such as industrial and agricultural waste have gained attention as replacements for asbestos.

Researchers worldwide have explored non-hazardous materials such as palm kernel shells and fibre, rice husk, maize husk, coconut shells, bamboo fibre among others for brake pad production.

Despite Ghana’s abundance of materials for asbestos-free brake pad production, there is a lack of comprehensive research to identify the most suitable materials for manufacturing brake pads for the local market.

Currently, many unknown aftermarket replacement brake pads flood the Ghanaian market, lacking clear specifications and falling short of the quality standards set by well-known suppliers such as Toyota, Mercedes and others.

 Produced brake pads

This research leverages locally available materials to develop eco-friendly, high-quality brake pads for commercial use, aiming to reduce import costs and foster a sustainable local industry.

The adoption of these asbestos-free brake pads will also enhance safety, address environmental concerns and contribute to the national economy.

Comparing the properties of the developed brake pad to commercial and asbestos-based brake pads

The asbestos-free brake pad compares favourably in various aspects with an asbestos-based brake pad and two after-market replacement commercial brake pads during testing. It exhibits higher water absorption values compared to both the commercial and asbestos-based brake pads and outperforms the two commercial brake pads in oil absorption.

Additionally, the developed brake pad demonstrates higher compressive and hardness values than both the commercial and asbestos-based pads.

Its coefficient of friction aligns closely with the two commercial brake pads and falls within the typical friction range of the asbestos-based brake pad (0.3 - 0.6).

Furthermore, the average wear value of the produced pad is competitive, slightly outperforming the commercial brake pads and trailing the asbestos-based pad by only 4.04 per cent.

Socioeconomic impact

These research projects support multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by boosting local economies (SDG 8), reducing pollution (SDG 13), promoting responsible production (SDG 12), enhancing health (SDG 3) and fostering industry and innovation (SDG 9).

To maximise their impact, significant investment from public and private sectors is essential.

(Read a fuller version of this article at www.graphic.com.gh or on Graphic Online) 

The writer is a Business Development Manager/ Marketing Communications Specialist,
University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa.
E-mail: mbremfi@umat.edu.gh