The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences. Dr Ted Yemoh Annang, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies at the University of Ghana, has called for Ghana to stop dumping all waste in landfills. According to him, this approach is unsustainable and will only worsen the country's waste management crisis.

Dr Annang was speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday, July 13, during a discussion on waste disposal in Ghana. The expert warned that the country must prioritize waste diversion by separating and treating recyclable and organic waste before it reaches landfill sites.

Waste diversion is not about reducing waste volume but rather extending the life of waste materials such as plastics, metals, and paper, Dr Annang explained. However, in Ghana, waste is often collected and transported directly to landfill sites without any effort to separate recyclable or biodegradable materials.

This situation is made worse by the fact that many landfill sites are not designed to perform their intended purpose. Dr Annang said that landfill sites should only receive waste that cannot be reused, recycled, or treated further.

Using markets as an example, Dr Annang said the majority of waste generated in such places is organic and could be diverted for other uses. According to him, if we go to the market, where we always have heaps of garbage, more than 90 per cent of the garbage there is degradable. It's organic.

Dr Annang warned that unless the country embraces recycling, composting, and other forms of waste recovery, it will continue to struggle with the shortage of disposal sites. He also pointed out that organic waste, which makes up the largest share of Ghana's waste, should be composted or converted into energy instead of being dumped.

He said Ghana should focus on managing waste as a resource rather than treating everything as rubbish to be discarded. According to him, managing waste involves extending the life of waste materials like plastics, metals, and paper, and turning organic waste into energy.

Key Facts

  • More than 90 per cent of the garbage in Ghana's markets is degradable, or organic waste.
  • Ghana generates a large share of organic waste, which can be turned into energy or composted.
  • Landfill sites should only receive waste that cannot be reused, recycled, or treated further.
  • Dr. Ted Yemoh Annang is a senior research fellow at the University of Ghana's Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies.
  • Ghana needs to adopt waste diversion methods to save landfill space and reduce waste volume.
  • Organic waste forms over three-quarters of Ghana's waste stream.

A sharp and dry tone suits this story, given its focus on the unsustainable nature of Ghana's waste management practices.