GAYO holds community engagement to commemorate Zero Waste Day

A youth-led environmental advocacy non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), has hosted a community engagement and sensitisation event to commemorate International Zero Waste Day.

The event, held last Thursday at Teshie in the Ledzekokuku Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, aimed to promote environmental sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane.

The sensitisation programme was conducted in collaboration with waste workers from the La Dadekotopon Municipality and Ledzokuku Municipality, supported by the Global Methane Hub and the Clean Air Fund.

The community engagement saw the environmental activists tour the homes of residents and educate them on proper waste management, including waste segregation and proper waste disposal, such as cessation of waste burning.  

The initiative, which aims to empower residents with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage waste effectively, is part of a broader effort to mitigate the impact of climate change.

This year, Zero Waste Day, which focused on the disposal of textiles, also aimed at educating residents on how to make use of fabric-related products, which are easily reusable compared to plastic waste.

By promoting waste separation and proper disposal practices, the project seeks to reduce the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Waste Separation

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Project Coordinator of GAYO’s Zero Waste Programme in the Greater Accra Region, Mabel Naa Amorkor Laryea, underscored the importance of waste separation in promoting sanitation.

“Waste separation is a critical step in managing waste effectively.

By separating organic waste from inorganic waste, residents can significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, where it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

"Organic waste, such as food waste and yard trimmings, is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in landfills," she said.

She emphasised that by separating organic waste from inorganic waste, such as plastics and paper, we can reduce the amount of methane produced in landfills and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Ms Laryea appealed to residents to desist from the open burning of refuse, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

She urged residents to adopt the practice of waste segregation. 

She highlighted that poor waste management has far-reaching effects and can significantly impact the environment and public health, adding that "by promoting proper waste management practices, we can mitigate these impacts and create a healthier, more sustainable environment for all."

Concern

Cynthia Appiah, an Environmental Health Officer at the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, expressed concern about the practice of open burning of refuse and the dumping of waste in drains.

She called for intensified campaigns against waste practices that have contributed to environmental and hygiene-related diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea, and have also contributed to climate change.

Ms Appiah emphasised that although it would take time to change the mindset of some residents, the campaign must be consistent and supported by the implementation of various legal regimes and the enforcement of these measures so that such practices can be eradicated soon.

She expressed gratitude to GAYO, its partners, and the waste workers for their initiative to educate the residents of Ledzokuku about proper waste management.