Waste management in an LIC: Agbogbloshia. Flashcards
In what city is the Agbogbloshia dumping ground?
Accra, Ghana.
What sort of waste is dumped and sorted in Agbogblashia?
Electrical waste (E-waste).
Why is there so much E-waste in Agbogbloshia?
Because TNC’s in Europe find it cheaper to transport it than treat in Europe.
What is the population of Accra (the capital of Ghana)?
2 million.
How much waste does Accra generate that ends up in Agboglashia?
900,000 metric tonnes a year. (0.5kg per person a day).
How is waste management run in Accra?
It is a privatised industry. Not much state intervention.
Evaluate the success of the private waste management companies?
Collect 80% of all waste in the areas they serve. However only service 40% of the city.
What opportunities have developed for informal workers in Agboglashia?
Informal collectors. People rummage to find metals (like copper) and working electronics to sell. However, there is a mafia on this informal work.
How does the city deal with its organic waste?
No formal method. But there are two models being tested. These are ‘small-scale composting’ and the large-scale composting and recycling plant.
Explain what is meant by the Small-scale composting projects?
Small companies collect organic waste from hotels and restaurants and sent to a neighbourhood composting unite to be turned into compost.
Explain how the large-scale composting and recycling plant helps deal with waste?
Owned by a private company. Receives 500 tonnes of municipal waste a day. Organic waste converted to compost non-organic is treated like at regular treatment site.
What new schemes have been introduced to deal with waste?
Communal collection sites, door to door collection, provide free bins.
How are new waste policies helping employ young people?
National youth employment scheme. Encourage young people to work to collect the waste in a formal sector manner.
Approximately how much waste is recycled in Accra?
only 10%
