Recycling starts with segregation of your waste - Gripe Ghana

Ghana, like most developing countries has a solid waste management problem. It is estimated that 12,710 tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated per day in Ghana, 14% of which is plastic (Miezah et al., 2015).

The Ellen McArthur Foundation says Plastic packaging is fundamental to industry and everyday life. Not only does it deliver direct economic benefits, but it can also contribute to increased levels of resource productivity — for instance, plastic packaging can reduce food wastage by extending the shelf life of products, and can reduce fuel consumption for transportation by reducing packaging weight.

To put it in context, in Ghana, it is believed that approximately 80% of the population has access to potable water because of a simple plastic innovation like the sachet water or “pure water” as it is locally called.

Unfortunately, the poor management of post-consumption plastic means that the durability of plastic has generated negative externalities such as indiscriminate dumping, littering, landfilling and several other activities that lead to plastics in the environment.

Years of fragmented, incremental efforts unfortunately have failed to deliver impact at scale as we continue to see a huge amount of littering in our country.

We acknowledge that to move towards a plastic-free environment, collaboration across sectors as well as consumers is needed.

To address this situation, industry in 2017 formed a coalition named Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE). GRIPE aims at creating a more holistic approach that addresses plastic waste management by enabling recycling efforts in Ghana.

GRIPE is an industry-led coalition formed under the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) with a stake in the plastics sector to integrate sustainable waste management solutions, particularly around plastics.

GRIPE believes that waste management is a shared responsibility that is the responsibility of all stakeholders: the government, the civil society and industry
For this reason, this group of private enterprises with varied products and a proven track record of involvement in sustainability actions concerning plastics in other countries is taking the lead.

The founding members are Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana; Dow Chemical West Africa Limited; Fan Milk Ghana Limited; Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited; Nestlé Ghana Limited; PZ Cussons Ghana Limited; Unilever Ghana and Voltic (GH) Limited.

Recently two affiliate members Finepack Industries Ltd and KGM Industries Ltd have also who are plastics convertors have joined the coalition with many other companies representing interest to join efforts in managing the environments sustainably.

The Expanded Purpose of the group is to:

1. Advocate for improved waste management practices.

2. Connect various organizations working to create an improved waste management system.

3. Contribute to increased collection and recycling rates countrywide.

4. Provide employment opportunities through scalable recycling solutions.

These objectives will be achieved via 4 pillars of

• Data and Research,

• Education and Public Awareness,

• Solutions Implementation,

• Multi-stakeholder collaboration.



In the long-term, GRIPE, in partnership with NGOs, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI) with support from other industrial players specialized in implementing recycling and second life solutions will not only reduce the impacts of post-consumption waste on the environment but also create employment through waste collection, sorting and processing centers. This will also reduce marine litter and divert the plastic which may otherwise have ended on landfill sites back into the economy.

GRIPE is looking at creating an improved plastic waste value chain for Ghana that involves:

1. Segregation of solid waste from source and diversion of recyclables from landfill which is a major contributor to marine litter.

2. Building of sorting centers where the plastic waste will be sorted.

3. Creation of processing centers for shredding or other conditioning needed prior to sale.

4. Use in the identified Second life solutions to promote a circular economy. Examples including Plastic modified concrete for construction, Wood-plastic composite for furniture, Plastic modified bitumen for road construction and other suitable uses.

5. Implementation of Behavioral Change campaigns with focus on segregation and anti-littering activities.

Today, March 18, 2019 as the world marks, Global Recycling day, the Global Recycling Foundation is using the theme ‘Recycling into the Future’ to create awareness on the importance of recycling using the power of youth, education and innovation in ensuring a brighter future for the planet. People around the world are invited to demonstrate their support for recycling.

In Ghana, however, GRIPE is calling on all Ghanaians to be sensitive to the environment, be conscious of how our collective actions can positively affect the environment, leaving a good legacy for posterity. It is not a time to blame each other, but rather an opportune time to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Let us challenge ourselves today to change our behaviour towards the environment, be good citizens of the nation and leave a good example for the next generation.

GRIPE encourages all Ghanaians to embrace recycling by starting with the simple action of segregating & sorting their waste: separating their organic material (food waste) from recyclables: plastic, paper, aluminum/ cans and caps.

The recyclable waste can then be collected or sent to designated programmes by GRIPE and other similar initiatives that are targeted at recycling.

To join this initiative of segregation, visit https://thegripe.org/.

Follow our programmes and activities to help manage our environment.