As Ghana's population expands and urbanizes, so does the volume of waste it produces. But not every area has the means and facilities to cope with the mounting piles of rubbish. Waste disposal and management pose a serious challenge for the country our people.
- Inadequate facilities and infrastructure: One of the major waste challenges is the lack of safe and proper destination to all the waste generated. Many communities in Ghana do not have enough waste facilities and infrastructure that deals with waste. This means that a lot of waste ends up in places where it does not belong, such as open dumps, streets, waterways, and even the ocean. To respond to this major challenge , local areas need to invest in efficient collection and disposal systems, such as landfills, incinerators, composting, and recycling facilities. These systems should reduce the negative impacts and increase the recovery of materials and energy.
- Improper disposal and collection: Many communities in Ghana do not have proper waste disposal and collection systems, such as bins, bags, trucks, and schedules. This results in waste being scattered, burned, or buried randomly. There communities that do not have access to waste collection services, which discourages them from disposing of their waste properly. This situation calls for urgent action and investment in better waste management systems and services for Ghana.
- Poor waste management: Despite the potential of waste as a valuable resource, most communities in Ghana lack proper waste management practices. Waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery are often neglected and ignored. There is a lack of public education and awareness on the benefits of good waste management. As good citizens, we have to teach people why good waste management matters
- Harmful substances in the material’s composition: Almost all types of waste, including household waste, contain harmful hazardous substances. These chemicals pose a serious risk to human health and the environment, as they can cause various illnesses, cancers, and birth defects. To tackle this problem, local authorities must enforce strict rules and checks on the production, use, and disposal of these substances. These actions can help to protect the people from the effects of these substances.
- Low Demand for secondary raw materials : Recycled materials have a low demand in most of our local areas, due to their poor quality or lack of awareness. We tend to prefer plastic and non-recyclable materials that need raw materials, which consume a lot of energy and time to extract from natural resources. local authorities need to offer incentives and policies that promote the use of recycled materials.
These waste challenges endanger the health, well-being, and progress of our local communities in Ghana. That is why we need quick and thorough solutions to tackle them. Our Borla app lets you handle your waste properly. It links you to the best waste collectors in your area. We offer you useful advice on waste management. Download the Borla Gh App on Playstore , sign up, and join us in creating a cleaner environment.
