Records have shown that about 300 metric tons of plastics waste are generated daily in Accra, and only 5 % is recycled. Thus many waste plastics are not collected for recycling benefits, which have negative consequences on environmental health and community’s beautification. However the collection of waste plastics is now a major source of livelihoods support for people of all ages and gender in Accra.
On January 21st and 22nd 2025, Peter Asiedu the Executive Director of Nurture Nature Foundation, represented CSOs under CCF together with a team from Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology led my Dr. Memuna Mattah, in the company of Mr. Daniel Nortey and Mr. Nunana Agbemabiese visited some waste plastics sorting centers in Accra, geared towards identifying possible buy back centers to promoting environmental sustainability to improve livelihoods in communities under the WACA Resip 2 project at Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly and Accra Metropolitan Authority.
The purpose of the visit was to introduce Mr. Nunana Agbemabiese to waste sorting centers and to also engage with waste plastics collectors, and managers of recycling centers to understand their operations and contributions to work better waste management practices within the value chain. The visit was part of the WACA Resip 2 PIU initiatives to begin the process that will lead to pilot buy back centers within its communities of operation to contribute to sustainable waste management and to address especially plastic pollution. This process is also geared towards the creation of a circular economy which will promote and secure the local citizens economy to support environmentally friendly practices in communities across the project areas.
The team visited six places in total (three buy back centers and three recycling centers) as narrated below.
Darkuman Cable and Wireless
Cable and Wireless is a hub of waste sorting centers located near Darkuman Post Office in Ablekuma North constituency in Accra. The area covers about 300 square meters with more than 150 sorting centers of different specialties employing about 870 workers, majority of them being women and youth in their prime ages between 18 to 45 years.
Interacting with Mr. Wisdom who is the leader of one of the waste sorting centers, the team was made aware that, they receive most of their supplies from Central and Eastern region. This waste is then sorted at their end, and partially processed to add value by crushing (Figure 1) to reduce the bulkiness of the material or processed into pellets (Figure 2). This semi-processed plastic waste is then sold to recycling companies in Tema or Nsawam. Touching on the capacity building of the sorters, he indicated that, when the workers are employed, they provide them with training by themselves within a week or two to be able to carefully identify and select plastics of similar density into clusters when the waste is brought. After the sorting, the plastics of higher density (buckets, bowls, flasks, poly tanks etc) are cut into bits using sharp cutlasses before crushing by machines and further processed into pellets. The less density plastics (plastic bottles) are crushed together with their covers and processed for the market. The pure water sachets or rubbers of lesser density are also processed through melting, cooling, moulding into strands and cut into pellets for the recycled market (Figure 3).
Observations made by the team during the visit at Cables and Wireless include, very labor-intensive working conditions are required for the sorting process, they are also exposed to the harsh weather, crude tools such as cutlasses, lack of safety measures such as working without PPE’s such as nose & ear guards, hand gloves etc. and nursing mothers exposing them to danger.
Above is a picture of waste plastics sorted and packaged at Cables and Wireless being observed by team leader Dr. Memuna Mattah
Above is a picture of high density waste plastics crushed into pellets at Cables and Wireless
Below is a picture of less density waste plastics melted, cooled, moulded into strands and cut into uniform pellets
Dzatakpor Dump Site at Glefe
During the teams’ visit to Dzatakpor avalanche dump site at Glefe near Dansoman, located under Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly in Accra, there was evidence of many women and youth present seriously working. Totaling about 80 people which were found sorting for valuable waste items such as plastics, sachets, metals, food stuff, books and clothes, the team was informed that, this was not an active day (Figure 4). The dumpsite is supervised and operated by a team of young people who takes a token from people patronizing the site.
According to one of the dump site leaders Mr. Nii Ofei, a busy day could attract over 200 people and each person has to pay Five Ghana Cedis (Ghc 5) per day in order to be allowed to work at the dump site. The ABOBOYA tricycles waste carriers also pay between Thirty to Fifty Ghana cedis (Ghc 30 – Ghc 50) depending on the quantum of waste they bring to the dump site. He also indicated that, the value chain of the dumpsite activities employs over 1000 people both locals and foreigners especially from Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso. Further discussion revealed that, depending on the quantity of waste which is received daily, about 2 tons of plastic wastes is generated at the dumpsite.
Information gathered at the site indicated that, the waste sorters are specialized in various areas. Some concentrate in metals, while others in papers or used clothes. Interacting with Mr. Yakubu a sorter, he is specialized in the collection of waste clothes, which he washes and package to give the vulnerable and needy people in the Northern region periodically.
Observations and information gathered by the team indicated that, the Dzatakpor dumpsite is an illegal site. It is located within a Wetland which is part of the Densu Ramsar. The emergence of the dump site has affected the wetland due to filling of the Dzatakpor Lagoon with waste to reclaim land for their activities. This activity has resulted in massive deposits of waste into the lagoon causing epic destruction of the biodiversity and obstructing the free flow of water. Furthermore, the continued burning of refuse at the site releases a lot of smoke and methane gas which pollutes the environment, and poses health consequences to the community residents and beyond.
Above is the picture Dzatakpor dump site with active waste sorters present
Above is evidence of waste used to fill the Dzatakpor Lagoon for land reclamation at Glefe
Above is a picture of the team at DZATAKPOR dump site at Glefe
Korle Estuary and Korle Dump Site
The team was welcome at the Korle estuary under the Odododiodio Constituency by Mr. Alhassan, a renowned dealer in waste plastics whose operations involved purchase of waste plastics and processing into crushed plastic pellets to add value before delivery to recycling companies in Tema. He stated that, to be able to meet the demand market, some of the waste plastics are purchased from communities in Tema in order to get the volumes he requires for supply.
Currently, he employees about 20 workers which are mostly women and youth. Similar observations were made where two nursing mothers with children between the ages of 1 to 3 years were exposed to the weather and unhygienic working environment. These workers we were told work between 8:00am to 5:00 daily and in-between have some break for lunch. Asking why he operates near the estuary, he explained that, he has access to the crushing machine which he does not own one and also the land to which the owners of the machines are the custodian. He indicated that, he use to work in the Eastern region but it is very far from the source of his raw materials and also the services of crushing machines to add value to his goods to earn him more income.
Observing the unhygienic conditions under which they work, and the exposure to toxic substances including fumes from burning of unwanted materials, eating during working hours which could contaminate the food, the team asked whether his workers have national health insurance. The answer was no, however he indicated that, he supports them when they have to buy some medication and also offers them some off duty days when they are sick.
At the Korle (Bola) dump site, the team was welcome by Mr.Shaibu who is the leader of about 7 people mainly guys between the ages of 19 to 27 years. He said that the group work jointly to do the waste sorting, and their targeted items are mainly plastics and metals.
On the quantity of plastic waste selected daily, he said it varies from day to day, however they are able to obtain more materials when the excavators are brought to level the dump site, and when more trucks come to deposit waste at the site. The working conditions were not different at this place also they were on break resting under a shed. It was observed that all the 7 people pass the night in a small tent. “This is where we sleep” they exclaimed.
Above is a picture of the team at Korle Estuary sorting center with Mr. Alhassan , the dealer of waste plastics (2nd from left)
PAPER MILL NIGERIA LIMITED
The team visited the Paper Mill Nigeria Limited which is located at Agbogbloshie under the Odododiodio Constituency. This company deals in the purchasing of both waste papers and waste plastics bottles only. According to Nana Asare, a supervisor who has been employed since 2019, their main operations involves binding the papers and plastics to be delivered to their partner recycling plant at Nsawam.
The company have about 15 employees, specialized in quality checks to ensuring only clean waste papers and plastics are purchased, packed, weighed and delivered to Nsawam. The workers are basically supervisors, weight lift machine operators, cashier, cleaners and drivers.
The company receives between 5 to 10 tons of plastics waste daily by 30 to 50 tricycles and other big haulage trucks. Due to their location within the commercial area, individuals also bring their waste for direct sale at the company. The bulky materials are measured on a weighing bridge whilst the smaller ones are measured using a hanging scale.
On very busy business days more materials are purchased, however due to limited storage space, the company does not permit them to purchase any excesses. This situation is much disturbing especially for collectors who depend on sales to pay for the transportation services and other urgent home needs.
Above is Binded waste plastics bottles at Paper Mill Nigeria Company Ltd
STAR PLASTICS COMPANY LIMITED
The team visited the Star Plastics Company limited which is a recycled company located near former Accra Brewery Company, located behind Paper Mill Nigeria Company limited under the Odododiodio Constituency.
The Operations Manager Mr. Rabii welcome the team and showed us the production procedures which involves high industrialized machines with intensive labor support. He emphasized their demand for both plain plastics bottles and sachets rubbers. He explained that the colored plastics bottles have different density which is not suitable for their machine capacity to crush.
He explained that after crushing the plastics bottles together with their covers, all the pellets are put into a water filtered machine which is designed to allow the heavier pellets floating for separations and collected from the surface of the water using scooping containers by the workers positioned at the vent into nylon sacks, leaving the residue pellets in filtered chambers of the machine.
According to Mr. Rabii the heavier crushed pellets floating in the water filtered machine are the covers of the plastic bottles, whilst the residue pellets in the filtered chambers are the crushed plain plastics bottles. All the washed and cleaned pellets are packaged differently
Another regular activity recognized is the sorting of filthy sachets and other foreign materials which are stuck in bottles before assembling them for recycling.
Above is a picture of the team at Star Plastics Co. Ltd
SPACE PLASTICS COMPANY LIMITED
The Space plastics company limited is located at Odawna, near Circle in the Klottey Korle Constituency. This is one of the recycling companies in Accra which purchases much volume of sachets rubbers only. According to Mr. Lamin who is the Managing Director the waste collectors provide all the raw materials for their recycling business.
He however added that the company is not interested in purchasing the black rubbers for packaging but can arrange for market in the event that we bring more tons for supply.
The company is viably running production in a well-constructed factory with heavy installation of machines supported by trained and skillful laborers.
With regards to excursion for learning purposes by students, Mr. Lamin accepted to grant such opportunities to schools and colleges interested in practical recycling, with at least one week official written notice.
He was also quick to caution against dishonest waste collectors who intentional store more water in their packages to increase the weight. He indicated that, they conduct due diligence to make sure such people do not have their way.
SOME CONCERNS FOR REDRESS
- The absent of personal protective equipment use by most of the people at all the waste sorting centers shows the high exposure of the collectors to likely injuries by sharp objects, as well as easy contamination of germs, toxic substances with their bare hands and other body parts needs immediate attention. This calls for more attention and support by CSOs in the discipline of climate change mitigation and environmental conservation to have periodic sensitization and education on best waste sorting practices and safeguard standard operations to improve their health.
- The absent of sheds at the waste sorting centers for rest hours seriously put all the waste collectors under the direct effects of the weather which could affect their health and productivity especially during harsh weather conditions.
- The price of the plastic waste which is peaked at between Ghc 2.50 to Ghc 6 per kilo depending on the quantities supplied must be given a regulatory policy to ensuring periodic review to improve the livelihoods of the pickers/sorters.
- The deposited waste at the DZATAKPOR Lagoon if not discontinued could further endanger biodiversity and ecological safety of the community landscape and exacerbate flooding in the area, as it serves as a water reservoir channel for drainages which are linked through parts of Dansoman, Opetekwei, Mpoasi and Glefe.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Following the visit to the above mentioned sites, the following recommendations are made by Nurture Nature Foundation for improved value added to plastic waste.
- Proper management of recognized dump sites through collaboration between the Assemblies, and private partnerships. This is needed because it serves as source of employment for over thousands of people across the value chain of production and improve on the circular economy.
The engagement of greater majority of these women and the active youth would prevent many of them in engaging in social vices such as armed robbery, prostitution, fraudsters etc.
- MESTI / WACA should facilitate capacity building of CSOs working in climate change mitigations and environmental conservation to have collaborative projects that will address the health and safety working conditions of the waste collectors.
- MESTI / WACA should work at MOU or formal agreements with CSOs to develop other strategies which will identify and enhance massive plastic wastes collections avenues to promote waste to wealth projects in communities to enhance sustainable income generation, reduce the incident of pollution and improve sanitation in communities.
Report by: Peter Asiedu Executive Director Nurture Nature Foundation