Optimizing Ghana's Waste Management in a 24-Hour Economy

Ghana is further confronted with very serious waste management challenges through quick urbanization and population growth. Conventional 8-hour working habits have contributed to inefficiency, such as delayed waste disposal and under-use of recycling units. Accra alone produces in excess of 14,000 tons of rubbish per day, with recycling lower than 10%. This has led to deterioration of the environment, public health hazards, and economic losses.

Shift to a 24-Hour Economy Model

The projected 24-hour economy model seeks to address such issues through ensured round-the-clock waste collection and efficient recycling processes. The proposed solution is intended to prevent waste spilling, enhance the use of infrastructure, and create green employment opportunities. The fundamental idea of the model is the embracement of innovative technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), which offers predictive analysis and efficiency in operations.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Operating a 24-hour waste management system corresponds to a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

SDG 11.6: Mitigation of urban environmental impacts.
SDG 12.5: Encouraging recycling and reusing.
SDG 9: Encouraging innovation and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Regular collection of waste can minimize urban waste overflow by 30%, with improved recycling processes that could recycle 50% of materials wasted.

Challenges and Strategic Recommendations

It is a difficult task to transform into a 24-hour waste collection system due to the following problems:

Infrastructure Investment: Sizable up-front investment needs to be invested in sophisticated recycling plants.
Public Engagement: Change in behavior will be opposed by the public.
Stakeholder Coordination: It is difficult to coordinate among public institutions, private companies, and the people.
To tackle these issues, the following needs to be done:

Stakeholder Participation: Plan an independent array of roles for private operators, private firms, and community organizations. Tax rebates could be given to private operators to finance recycling technology investments, while educational campaigns can be started by community organizations.
Incorporating Technology: Incorporate AI in waste collection routing for optimizing the same, in predicting patterns of generation, and recycling performance tracking. Real-time data pilot schemes will boost efficiency.
Financial Planning: Perform extensive cost analyses and consider financing through green bonds, public-private partnerships, and foreign grants. Working with institutions such as the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) can be beneficial.
Policy Reforms: Regulate waste management policy to facilitate the 24-hour model, for instance, setting recycling targets and mandatory compliance.
Theoretical Frameworks Supporting the Model

There are two theoretical frameworks that support the waste management optimization suggested:

Porter's Value Chain Model: The waste management process is classified by this model into phases:
Upstream: Waste production.
Midstream: Transportation and treatment.
Downstream: Redistribution and reuse.
24-hour implementation can avoid bottlenecks and increase recovery of resources in all phases.

Circular Economy Model (CEM): The model shifts from a linear "take-make-dispose" to a regenerative one where waste is viewed as a resource. It emphasizes minimizing waste, recycling, and establishing secondary markets for recyclable materials.
Comparative Analysis: 8-Hour vs. 24-Hour Models

A comparative analysis recognizes the benefits of a 24-hour waste management system:

Operational Efficiency: Round-the-clock operations prevent waste accumulation and optimize infrastructure use.
Economic Growth: Longer working periods create foreign investment and job opportunities for recycling firms.
Ecological Sustainability: Less waste spillage and increased recycling help make cities cleaner.
Case Study: Textile Wastes Management in Ghana

Ghana's experience with waste from the clothing sector demonstrates the potential of creative waste management. Accra's second-hand clothing stores are filled with low-quality clothes, resulting in huge pollution. Events such as the Obroni Wawu display fashion made from recycled clothing, converting trash into valuable commodities and encouraging sustainable use.
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Conclusion

Ghana's waste management streamlined through a 24-hour economy model is an end-to-end solution to the existing challenges. Through incorporating round-the-clock operations, innovation, and collective strategies, Ghana can make its waste management a sustainable and economically viable model.

Source: MY JOY ONLIN