Generation of electricity from waste is a reality - Expert

Accra, April 28, GNA - A German investor in waste management on Wednesday expressed optimism that Ghana has the trump card to generate electricity from waste.

Mr Karl-Heinz Pasch, President and Chief Executive Officer of EnDIAG Company, made the observation during a visit to the Oblogo land filled site in Weija Municipality in the Greater Accra Region on Tuesday. "I believe Ghana's long awaited dream of generating electricity from waste could be a reality," he said.

Mr. Pasch suggested the need for a feasibility study, to capture the rainfall and sunshine pattern in the area, measurements and map of the site, geological details and total tonnage of waste.

Mr Victor Quartey, Environmental Waste Management Officer of Accra Metropolitan Assembly, told the Ghana News Agency that the Oblogo site said was acquired and designated as the official waste dumping site on January 5, 2002 after a quarry company had completed its operations in the area. He noted that dumping of refuse at the site officially stopped on July 31, 2007, after dumping about 2,208,250 tonnes of waste.

"This waste comprise of 65 per cent organic, three per cent paper, 3.5 per cent plastic, 3.6 per cent glass, 2.5 per cent metal, 1.7 per cent textile, 17.1 per cent of inert metals and 1.2 per cent of other waste," he said.

Mr Quartey explained that the site had an average depth of 30 metres, density of 8.21 tonnes and an area of 3.21 acres. The project is a joint venture between Ghana and EnDIAG Company as an alternative source of power. Available statistics indicates that Accra Metropolis generates about 2,000 tonnes of waste daily out of which between 1,600 and 1,800 are collected. 28 April 10