Key Takeaways
- The Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) has attributed the growing piles of uncollected refuse in parts of Greater Accra to a severe shortage of landfill sites.
- The shortage of landfill sites has increased the turnaround time for waste collection vehicles, affecting operations significantly.
- Waste management companies are compelled to travel long distances to dispose of waste, sometimes up to 90 kilometres, due to the limited landfill sites available.
- The ESPA Executive Secretary has called for urgent investment in waste management infrastructure to improve efficiency in waste collection and address the growing refuse situation.
The growing piles of uncollected refuse in parts of Greater Accra have raised concerns over serious health risks and affecting business activities. The Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) has attributed this situation to a severe shortage of landfill sites, describing it as a major challenge for waste management service providers.
According to the ESPA Executive Secretary, Ama Ofori Antwi, rapid urbanisation and population growth have significantly increased the volume of waste generated daily, while the infrastructure needed to manage and dispose of the waste has not kept pace.
Background & Context
The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Ghana, with a population of over 4 million people. The rapid urbanisation and population growth in GAMA have put a significant strain on the waste management infrastructure, leading to the current crisis.
The waste management infrastructure in Ghana has been underfunded and under-resourced, leading to the shortage of landfill sites and other infrastructure needed to manage and dispose of waste. The ESPA Executive Secretary has called for urgent investment in waste management infrastructure to improve efficiency in waste collection and address the growing refuse situation.
Why This Matters
The waste management crisis in Greater Accra poses serious health risks to the residents and affects business activities. The shortage of landfill sites has increased the turnaround time for waste collection vehicles, affecting operations significantly. This has resulted in waste collection companies being compelled to travel long distances to dispose of waste, sometimes up to 90 kilometres, due to the limited landfill sites available.
The ongoing rainy season has compounded the challenge, as poor road conditions leading to some disposal sites slow down the movement of waste trucks and affect accessibility. The ESPA Executive Secretary has called for urgent investment in waste management infrastructure to improve efficiency in waste collection and address the growing refuse situation.
Looking Ahead
The ESPA Executive Secretary has called for urgent investment in waste management infrastructure, particularly the establishment of additional engineered landfill sites within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, to improve efficiency in waste collection and help address the growing refuse situation.
The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has been urged to take immediate action to address the waste management crisis in Greater Accra. The ESPA is also working with other stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
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