The waste management sector in Ghana requires action on multiple fronts, include investment in waste reduction, reuse and recycling; implementation of integrated land use management; urban planning (e.g., recycling plants and factories for the production of organic fertilizer (composting)); training in waste recycling and waste engineering; and implementation of existing policy instruments for integrated waste management.
In addition, fiscal policy instruments and regulatory tools that can help green the waste subsector need to be developed. Examples of these are high fees for waste collection; heavy fines for indiscriminate disposal of wastes; eco-labelling for certain items; high taxes on non-degradable plastic materials, especially plastic bags; incentives for entrepreneurs to establish recycling plants; and introduction of a volume-based waste fee system.
In addition to identifying gaps in policies, regulations, laws and standards in the priority sectors to address potential roadblocks to green business development, the policy support component of SWITCH Africa Green supports the formulation of specific policies, regulations and standards and the establishment or strengthening of the institutions needed for resource-efficient and green businesses to emerge and grow.
