Managing Director of the Landfills Company Limited, Dr. Peter Kwesi Dagadu, has emphasised that Ghana’s ambition to transition from its traditional “collect and dump” approach to a more sustainable waste management system centred on recycling can only be achieved through deliberate government policies, regulations and financial support.
According to him, while recycling remains one of the most effective ways of reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill sites, its successful implementation requires a coordinated national strategy backed by legislation, enforcement mechanisms and investment.
Dr. Dagadu made the remarks during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, July 7, while discussing the growing waste management challenges confronting Accra and the broader need to reform Ghana’s sanitation sector.
He explained that although waste management companies are open to embracing recycling initiatives, the current economic realities make it difficult to undertake such investments without adequate government intervention.
Dr. Dagadu noted that recycling is not simply a business decision but one that must be driven by national policy.
He stated that government leadership is essential in creating the legal and financial framework needed to support waste segregation, recycling and the development of a circular economy.
“Recycling is a matter of policy. If the government decides that we should start waste segregation and there are laws and enforcement and policies to back it, it is something that can be taken up but for us as a business, it is a matter of economics.”
“Providing four bins to a household is a cost. Every bin costs about GH¢700 to GH¢800 and as we speak so what households are paying is just for collection. They are paying between GH¢100 and GH¢120, but a bin costs GH¢800 and so how are you going to get your cost back and how are you going to collect these separated wastes? There must be some funding to support recycling, and the government must be intentional with policy and regulation supported with enforcement.”
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