Gov’t to introduce strict household waste separation regime – Mahama Ayariga

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has announced plans to introduce a strict waste separation regime at the household level as part of efforts to improve waste management in the country.

Under the proposed system, households will be provided with separate bins for different categories of waste before collection.

The policy is expected to ensure that organic waste is processed into compost while other solid waste is sorted for recycling.

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM on Thursday, September 10, the Bawku Central MP said waste collectors would be required to report households that fail to separate their waste properly.

He said such households could face penalties under the proposed regime.

“Our plan is to make available in each home at least two waste bins. One is red, one green. The red is organic waste. The green is solid waste," the Minister explained.

Ayariga explained that the separation would continue throughout the waste management chain, including at transfer stations and landfill sites.

“So you must separate the waste from the source. At the same transfer station, they are also designed in such a way that one line receives solid waste and one line also receives organic waste," he stressed.

He said the organic waste would be processed into compost and other useful products, while solid waste would be sorted for recycling.

According to the Minister, separating waste at source would also help reduce the cost of waste management because the current practice of mixing waste makes subsequent separation more expensive.