Ghana’s new recycling drive transforms communities in capital city

Once plagued by floods and choked gutters caused by discarded sachet water bags and plastic bottles, communities in parts of the capital are now reaping the benefits of organised recycling.

A 2024 report published by Ghana's Audit Service stated that the country produces about 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste a year, of which 9.5% is recycled and the remainder is carelessly disposed of without consideration for the effects on the environment.

The community-led shift has not only improved sanitation but also created economic opportunities for many locals.

“When rain falls like this, the pure water, rubbish, and water bottles are always roaming, and the community always floods, and the gutters always choke,” one resident explained. “But for now, the cleanup has changed everything. Now, in some places, the gutters are always neat,” she told Viory. 

Another community member noted the cultural change in waste disposal habits: “Before, it created a lot of problems in our community. Plastic waste, they put it wherever... maybe gutters, maybe in the taxi, maybe in the trotro [public transport]. They would spread it a lot in the community. But now, I think the initiative they brought is helping us keep the plastic bottles on one side.”

The program also offers a financial lifeline to many low-income earners, especially women and youth who now collect and sell plastic waste to recycling centres.

“After recycling, we have plenty,” said another resident. “Before, the plastic rubbish, we didn’t use it for anything, they don’t sell it. But nowadays, I will go and pick up the rubbish and go and sell it for something. I can take money, I can buy food for myself, I can buy bread and everything. So now the recycling has done well for us to get profit from the pure water rubbish.”