Environment Minister calls for more private participation in waste management

Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahama Ayariga, has advocated increased private participation in Waste Management in Ghana.

Speaking after a tour of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) the Minister stressed the need for technological advancement in managing the country’s waste which continues to be a burden on government.

The Minister who was in the company of the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Daniel Amlalo, and some other stakeholders in the sector visited the plant to familiarize himself with operations of the company.

Mr Ayariga said application of innovation in waste management will bring about a clean and healthy environment.

The visit to the compost and recycling plant also enabled the Minister and his entourage to understand the various roles ACARP has played in the overall waste management process in selected MMDA in Greater Accra.

ACARP has been recycling and processing wastes from the Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA), Ga South, Ga Central, Ga West, Ga East, La Dade-Kotopon, Ledzokuku-Krowor, Adenta, and Akuapim South (Eastern Region) over the past three years of its inception.

The Minister was also conducted round an on-going state-of-the-art faecal waste Treatment Plant.

The plant is 80% complete and is expected to be commissioned by end of 2015.

The faecal waste plant when completed, according to the Managing Director of ACARP Dr. Richard Amponsah, will receive over 1,000m³ (100 trucks) liquid waste from various MMDAs which would have otherwise be discharged directly into the sea.

The strategic project would assist in addressing sanitary related diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, etc.

The project will also as learning centers for students (ranging from primary to the university level), researchers, policy makers and the media.

The faecal waste plant project is expected to generate about two hundred (200) additional Jobs.

The integrated facility is designed to host treatments plants that include: Sorting Plant, Composting Plant, Plastic recycling, Feacal waste treatment, Refuse Derived Fuels (RDF) productions, Waste to Energy (Biogas and Thermal derived energy); and a residual section. Presently ACARP is processing and producing Compost, Recyclables, Plastic pellets, RDF which are solid locally and also exported. Currently, ACARP is the largest producer of compost in Ghana.

Dr. Amponsah revealed the company’s plans of producing waste bins and recreational furniture from the recovered plastics from the waste stream of the municipal solid waste received at the site. The facility’s machinery and equipment had been received and were being installed at the time of the visit.

“In spite of the challenges in the past three years of operation, ACARP has expanded its operations to fully integrate waste management processes in the country especially in Accra,” he said.

Mahama Ayariga commended Management of ACARP for the immense contributions at sustaining the environment with its simple and innovative facilities.

He urged Management of the facility to continue with the good works and strive to bring various innovative projects into operation to help create a better Ghana for all.