Ghana launches $7m Circular Economy Project to tackle plastic waste

The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MEST) has launched a $7 million project. This project aims to promote sustainable waste management in Ghana's plastics sector.

The initiative is called the Circular Economy Framework for the Plastics Sector (CEF-PS). It is part of the National Plastic Management Policy approved by Cabinet in 2020. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds this project, which is executed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Ghana generates about 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year. However, only 9.5 percent of this waste gets recycled. Most plastic waste ends up in drains or open spaces. This situation poses risks to ecosystems and contributes to urban flooding.

The CEF-PS project aims to recover at least 93,000 tonnes of plastic waste. It also seeks to prevent 13,000 tonnes of marine litter. Over the next five years, it will train more than 2,000 stakeholders on circular economy practices.

MEST has already disbursed $331,606 to ten small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These funds will help pilot innovative solutions for plastic waste management. A total of $4.35 million is allocated for supporting SMEs in various areas like biodegradable plastics and community-based waste collection.

The beneficiary SMEs include Coliba Waste Management Services Ltd and McKingtorch Africa among others. Other beneficiaries are Nelplast Eco Ghana Ltd and Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP)/Zoomlion.

At the launch on April 10, Minister Murtala Mohammed urged SMEs to use funds properly. He emphasized that he would monitor how the money is spent.

He stated that there would be consequences for misusing funds or failing to meet objectives. “If you are not using the money as intended, don’t ask anyone to intervene,” he warned.

Joseph Yeboah from UNIDO outlined key components of the intervention during his speech. The pilot projects focus on preventing environmental pollution and reducing reliance on fossil fuels for plastic production.

Additionally, they aim to create an effective after-use economy for plastics. The project expects to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in underserved communities while promoting sustainable plastics management.