Zanetor speaks on crop-based packaging as solution to Ghana’s plastic waste

Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has proposed increased funding for scientific research into plant-based alternatives to conventional plastics as Ghana intensifies efforts to tackle plastic pollution.

Speaking during her vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 27, 2026, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) could be supported to develop biodegradable plastic alternatives from locally available crops such as cassava and hemp.

She said Ghana had abundant plant resources that could be harnessed to produce environmentally friendly materials capable of breaking down naturally without persisting in the environment.

“What I believe can be done in addition to this is to channel some funding towards the CSIR, so that they can actually look into biological alternatives, for example hemp, for example cassava,” she said.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that addressing plastic waste would require coordinated action by government institutions, communities and the private sector.

“I believe that once again with regards to the issue around plastic waste, it’s an all-of-government, all-of-society approach,” she said.

She also called for stronger measures to prevent hazardous waste and toxic chemicals from contaminating soil and water bodies.

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According to her, landfill standards must be strengthened to ensure that waste facilities have protective, non-permeable bases that prevent harmful substances from leaching into the soil and groundwater.

“Landfills must have a non-permeable base before items are dumped on it to prevent leaching into the soil and into the groundwater,” she said.

She described the measure as an “absolute necessity” and suggested that practices used at some electronic waste collection points could be extended to other waste management facilities.

Dr Agyemang-Rawlings further advocated for waste segregation at the household, school and community levels to support recycling and compost production.

“If we’re looking at the creation of compost, then from the household level, from the schools, from the very basic units of our communities, we should start the issue of segregation of waste,” she said.

She also proposed exploring technologies that can convert waste into energy and other useful products, including thermal power generation from solid waste, pyrolysis of plastics to produce fuel and cooking gas, and recycling certain plastics into reusable materials.

These measures, she said alongside public education and stronger enforcement, could provide Ghana with a more comprehensive response to its growing plastic waste challenge.

Watch the video below

Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings pushes for plant-based alternatives to plastics through CSIR

MRA/VPO

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