Environmentally Sound Disposal and Recycling of E-waste in Ghana

Project description

Title: Environmentally sound disposal and recycling of e-waste
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Countries: Ghana
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Environment, Science and Innovation (MESTI)
Overall term: 2016 to 2023

Context

Population growth, increasing prosperity and changing consumer habits in Ghana are increasing demand for consumer electronics. This has made Ghana a major importer of used consumer electronics, helping to bridge the digital divide between it and more developed countries but is also leading to an increase in electrical and electronic waste (e-waste). In addition to recyclables, such waste also contains pollutants that are harmful to human health and the environment if improperly handled.

In Ghana, 95 per cent of such electrical and electronic waste is collected, but both collection and recycling are organised largely informally. This means that these activities are not regulated by the Government and are open to unskilled workers. The most important location is the Old Fadama digital waste dump in the Ghanaian capital Accra, commonly known as ‘Agbogbloshie’. This site has become known internationally as the epitome of improper e-waste recycling. Many people earn their living here, facing the associated risks. Very few recycling businesses currently comply with environmental and social standards. Those that do have higher costs, putting them at a disadvantage compared with  informal scrap recyclers, who ignore the harm their activities cause to people and the environment.

Objective

The Ghanaian Government successfully implements a system for sustainable management of e-waste.

Approach

To improve the prerequisites for sustainable handling of e-waste, the project targets three areas, combining policy advice with measures to strengthen the recycling industry and helping informal recycling workshops make the transition to formal small businesses.

In the area of policy advice, the project supports the Ghanaian Ministry of Environment in implementing its e-waste standards. This includes developing financing mechanisms for sustainable handling of e-waste. The project also supports the Ministry in regulating this sector more effectively. The objective is to enhance collaboration with other government bodies and improve dialogue with the private sector, municipalities, non-governmental organisations and representatives of the informal recycling industry.

Collaboration with the private sector strengthens the representation of recycling business interests. Companies receive support to develop innovative and financially viable products and services. This also creates opportunities for start-ups.

The work in the informal recycling industry focuses on the Old Fadama waste site. Exchange and advisory services are intended to demonstrate how the site can undergo a transition to a sustainable recycling park with more regulated structures on a participatory basis.

The World Resources Forum and the Öko-Institut are both assisting the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with implementation of the project. The project is part of a programme being implemented jointly with KfW Development Bank.

Results

• The Ghanaian Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) uses advisory services and international exchange to develop and effectively implement suitable e-waste regulations.
• The exchange organised by the ministry with affected groups in society promotes mutual understanding of the challenges and produces jointly developed specific approaches.
• The recently formed association of formal recycling enterprises bundles the interests of its members and is recognised by the Ghanaian Government as an official stakeholder. 
• The training centre established on the Old Fadama site holds regular courses on the correct handling of e-waste. The courses are taught by teaching staff trained for this purpose. Suitable curricula have been developed as the basis for this.
• The project has mediated between hostile groups on the Old Fadama site. This has reduced tensions and facilitated a jointly developed vision for the future.
• An incentive and financing model for the recycling of problematic e-waste has been tested successfully. It is now used to operate a recycling fund.

Last update: February 2021