Clean Air Fund supports GAYO's waste management initiative
An environmental and climate change-oriented organisation in Ghana, the Clean Air Fund, has expressed commitment to support the waste management project implemented by the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), a youth-led environment-oriented organisation to promote air quality.
The initiative, the Zero Waste Cities project, which promotes separation of waste, stakeholder awareness and reduction of waste burning, has been deemed a model worth replicating across various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) in the Greater Accra Region.
The Country Director of the Clean Air Fund, Desmond Appiah, told the Daily Graphic in an interview during a visit to one of the waste management facilities at the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly in Accra last Tuesday, said the Fund is committed to reducing air pollution, which has severe health consequences.
“In Ghana, over 28,000 people die annually due to waste burning, with 18,000 of those deaths occurring in Accra. The GAYO project, which has already shown promising results, aims to prevent waste burning, reduce waste sent to landfills and create jobs through inclusive waste management practices,” he said.
Support, policy reforms
Mr Appiah stressed that the Clean Air Fund, in partnership with the Global Methane Hub, will support GAYO in expanding the project to other areas to help reduce waste sent to landfill and burning which impact air quality and public health.
He urged the government to make waste separation mandatory, highlighting the potential economic benefits and improved health outcomes.
The Country Director of Clean Air Fund said the project's focus on organic waste management was particularly noteworthy, as organics accounted for 65 per cent of Accra's waste, adding that by composting organic waste, the country could improve food security, reduce the demand for new materials and create jobs.
Mr Appiah further stressed the need for policies promoting waste separation, citing its numerous benefits, including job creation, reduced waste burning and improved environmental management.
Scaling up
The Chief Operating Officer at Clean Air Fund, Venitia Bell, who also joined the team during the tour of the facility, said she was impressed by the site's scale and activity, with 30 tonnes of waste processed monthly and recognised the potential for significant impact through replication.
She stressed that finding ways to scale up the project is crucial to maximising its benefits in helping create more jobs and improving waste management practices in the country and globally.
Recycling economy
The Project Manager of the Zero Waste Cities Project at GAYO, Jacob Johnson Attakpah, said the organisation intended to promote a circular economy in the country through its Zero Waste Cities Project.
He indicated that the project aimed to recover and recycle waste, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and promoting sustainable practices.
Mr Attakpah highlighted that the facility received an average of 30 tonnes of waste per month, including plastic, organic, electronic and textile waste, which had also become a source of employment for 20 people and indirect benefits for approximately 600 informal sector waste workers.
He emphasised the importance of transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy, where waste is minimised and resources are kept in use for as long as possible.
