Ghana recycles only 9.5% of plastic waste collected - Expert

Chief Executive Officer of Implementers, Kafui Prebbie, has called for urgent and coordinated action to address Ghana’s growing plastic, textile and electronic waste challenges.

Speaking at the Climate Forward Summit held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prebbie said the need for integrated waste management and a transition towards a circular economy has become more urgent than ever.

According to him, Sub-Saharan Africa records an estimated 117.6 million tonnes of plastic imports and production annually, with nearly 80% ending up as solid waste.

While delivering his speech at the summit, which was held under the theme, "The Circular Transition: Integrating Waste-to-Wealth Pathways and Clean Energy for Ghana’s Green Industrialisation," he added that Ghana generates about 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year but recycles only 9.5% of the waste collected.

“That vision holds as firmly today as it did at our founding, and it is more pressing now than ever, as the need for integrated plastic, textile and electronic waste management and a decisive shift toward a circular economy has never been more urgent.

“Sub-Saharan Africa alone sees annual plastic importation and production of approximately 117.6 million tonnes, yet nearly 80% of this ends up as solid waste, posing a severe threat to our ecosystems. Here in Ghana, we generate roughly 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year and currently recycle a mere 9.5% of what is collected,” he said.

Prebbie also raised concerns about the increasing volumes of electronic and textile waste, describing them as major environmental threats that require immediate attention.

He noted that global e-waste generation is estimated at between 20 million and 50 million tonnes annually, while global fibre supply in the textile industry reached about 113 million tonnes in 2021 due to the fast-fashion model.

The Implementers CEO further stated that although Africa remains a major destination for second-hand clothing, a significant portion of garments imported into the continent ends up as waste.

“While Africa serves as a primary market for second-hand clothing, nearly 50% of the garments that arrive in major hubs like Accra’s Kantamanto Market are immediately discarded as waste, clogging our drainage systems and overburdening our landfills.”

Prebbie said the summit was not only aimed at highlighting the waste crisis but also at identifying economic opportunities within the circular economy.

He explained that shifting from the traditional “take-make-dispose” model to a circular economy could help create jobs, reduce pollution and promote sustainable industrialisation.

“This summit is not merely about acknowledging the crisis. It is about embracing the economic and environmental opportunities of the transition. Moving from a linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model to a circular one is not just the right thing to do; it is a smart economic strategy for our continent.

“Our goal for this summit is to move from policy to practice. We are here to develop a roadmap that integrates innovative technologies with community-led management and strong regulatory enforcement,” he added.