Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City

Adam Wahabu; Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng; Isaac Monney; Prosper Kotoka

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13

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Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City

Adam Wahabu, Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng, Isaac Monney, Prosper Kotoka

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 20 September 2014 Accepted: 5 October 2014 Published: 20 October 2014

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Abstract

Waste diversion from landfills has generally been neglected in the developing world despite its potential to prolong the lifespan of landfills and generate revenues. This study aims at characterizing diverted solid waste fractions at communal collection points in seven communities and determining the trends in landfilled solid waste due to the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) mechanism. It is based on quantitative measurements of diverted waste by informal waste pickers at communal collection points in seven communities in the Kumasi metropolis and analysis of landfilled waste records prior to and after the introduction of the PAYT mechanism. The study shows a daily diversion rate of 19.4±9.2kg per informal waste picker per day with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.29). This constitutes just 0.5w/w% of the total waste stream at communal collection points. The diverted waste is dominated by plastics (50%) and metals (29%). Generally, the diverted waste quantities are hugely dependent on the storage capacities of the informal waste pickers while the types of recovered items depend on readily available market. The introduction of the PAYT system, as observed from the study, immediately caused a decline (28%) in waste disposed of at communal collection points but steadily appreciated with time (26% and 13% consecutive reductions in subsequent years). The study recommends support for the informal sector, Public-Private Partnerships for waste recycling and intensive public education on PAYT mechanism prior to and after its introduction.

Published in	American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13
Page(s)	225-231
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Diverted Solid Waste, Wastepicking, Landfill, Pay-As-You-Throw, Kumasi

References

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APA Style

Adam Wahabu, Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng, Isaac Monney, Prosper Kotoka. (2014). Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 3(5), 225-231. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13

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ACS Style

Adam Wahabu; Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng; Isaac Monney; Prosper Kotoka. Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2014, 3(5), 225-231. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13

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AMA Style

Adam Wahabu, Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng, Isaac Monney, Prosper Kotoka. Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City. Am J Environ Prot. 2014;3(5):225-231. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13,
  author = {Adam Wahabu and Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng and Isaac Monney and Prosper Kotoka},
  title = {Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {225-231},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20140305.13},
  abstract = {Waste diversion from landfills has generally been neglected in the developing world despite its potential to prolong the lifespan of landfills and generate revenues. This study aims at characterizing diverted solid waste fractions at communal collection points in seven communities and determining the trends in landfilled solid waste due to the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) mechanism. It is based on quantitative measurements of diverted waste by informal waste pickers at communal collection points in seven communities in the Kumasi metropolis and analysis of landfilled waste records prior to and after the introduction of the PAYT mechanism. The study shows a daily diversion rate of 19.4±9.2kg per informal waste picker per day with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.29). This constitutes just 0.5w/w% of the total waste stream at communal collection points. The diverted waste is dominated by plastics (50%) and metals (29%). Generally, the diverted waste quantities are hugely dependent on the storage capacities of the informal waste pickers while the types of recovered items depend on readily available market. The introduction of the PAYT system, as observed from the study, immediately caused a decline (28%) in waste disposed of at communal collection points but steadily appreciated with time (26% and 13% consecutive reductions in subsequent years). The study recommends support for the informal sector, Public-Private Partnerships for waste recycling and intensive public education on PAYT mechanism prior to and after its introduction.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City
AU  - Adam Wahabu
AU  - Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng
AU  - Isaac Monney
AU  - Prosper Kotoka
Y1  - 2014/10/20
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
SP  - 225
EP  - 231
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5699
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13
AB  - Waste diversion from landfills has generally been neglected in the developing world despite its potential to prolong the lifespan of landfills and generate revenues. This study aims at characterizing diverted solid waste fractions at communal collection points in seven communities and determining the trends in landfilled solid waste due to the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) mechanism. It is based on quantitative measurements of diverted waste by informal waste pickers at communal collection points in seven communities in the Kumasi metropolis and analysis of landfilled waste records prior to and after the introduction of the PAYT mechanism. The study shows a daily diversion rate of 19.4±9.2kg per informal waste picker per day with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.29). This constitutes just 0.5w/w% of the total waste stream at communal collection points. The diverted waste is dominated by plastics (50%) and metals (29%). Generally, the diverted waste quantities are hugely dependent on the storage capacities of the informal waste pickers while the types of recovered items depend on readily available market. The introduction of the PAYT system, as observed from the study, immediately caused a decline (28%) in waste disposed of at communal collection points but steadily appreciated with time (26% and 13% consecutive reductions in subsequent years). The study recommends support for the informal sector, Public-Private Partnerships for waste recycling and intensive public education on PAYT mechanism prior to and after its introduction.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Adam Wahabu

Waste Management Department, Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Tamale, Ghana
Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng

Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Isaac Monney

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation Education, University of Education Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana
Prosper Kotoka

Waste Management Department, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kumasi, Ghana

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APA Style

Adam Wahabu, Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng, Isaac Monney, Prosper Kotoka. (2014). Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 3(5), 225-231. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13

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ACS Style

Adam Wahabu; Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng; Isaac Monney; Prosper Kotoka. Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2014, 3(5), 225-231. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13

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AMA Style

Adam Wahabu, Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng, Isaac Monney, Prosper Kotoka. Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City. Am J Environ Prot. 2014;3(5):225-231. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13,
  author = {Adam Wahabu and Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng and Isaac Monney and Prosper Kotoka},
  title = {Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {225-231},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20140305.13},
  abstract = {Waste diversion from landfills has generally been neglected in the developing world despite its potential to prolong the lifespan of landfills and generate revenues. This study aims at characterizing diverted solid waste fractions at communal collection points in seven communities and determining the trends in landfilled solid waste due to the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) mechanism. It is based on quantitative measurements of diverted waste by informal waste pickers at communal collection points in seven communities in the Kumasi metropolis and analysis of landfilled waste records prior to and after the introduction of the PAYT mechanism. The study shows a daily diversion rate of 19.4±9.2kg per informal waste picker per day with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.29). This constitutes just 0.5w/w% of the total waste stream at communal collection points. The diverted waste is dominated by plastics (50%) and metals (29%). Generally, the diverted waste quantities are hugely dependent on the storage capacities of the informal waste pickers while the types of recovered items depend on readily available market. The introduction of the PAYT system, as observed from the study, immediately caused a decline (28%) in waste disposed of at communal collection points but steadily appreciated with time (26% and 13% consecutive reductions in subsequent years). The study recommends support for the informal sector, Public-Private Partnerships for waste recycling and intensive public education on PAYT mechanism prior to and after its introduction.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Characteristics of Diverted Solid Waste in Kumasi: A Ghanaian City
AU  - Adam Wahabu
AU  - Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng
AU  - Isaac Monney
AU  - Prosper Kotoka
Y1  - 2014/10/20
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
SP  - 225
EP  - 231
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5699
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.13
AB  - Waste diversion from landfills has generally been neglected in the developing world despite its potential to prolong the lifespan of landfills and generate revenues. This study aims at characterizing diverted solid waste fractions at communal collection points in seven communities and determining the trends in landfilled solid waste due to the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) mechanism. It is based on quantitative measurements of diverted waste by informal waste pickers at communal collection points in seven communities in the Kumasi metropolis and analysis of landfilled waste records prior to and after the introduction of the PAYT mechanism. The study shows a daily diversion rate of 19.4±9.2kg per informal waste picker per day with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.29). This constitutes just 0.5w/w% of the total waste stream at communal collection points. The diverted waste is dominated by plastics (50%) and metals (29%). Generally, the diverted waste quantities are hugely dependent on the storage capacities of the informal waste pickers while the types of recovered items depend on readily available market. The introduction of the PAYT system, as observed from the study, immediately caused a decline (28%) in waste disposed of at communal collection points but steadily appreciated with time (26% and 13% consecutive reductions in subsequent years). The study recommends support for the informal sector, Public-Private Partnerships for waste recycling and intensive public education on PAYT mechanism prior to and after its introduction.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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