Public Awareness on Recycling of Solid Waste Materialsː Stakeholders Perspective in The Greater Accra Region

Abstract

Solid waste management is one issue all countries of the world grapple with. But for African countries, the problem is pronounced because of inadequate resources and technological constraints and Ghana‘s case is no different. Recycling has been noted to be one of the best ways in dealing with waste issues. It is considered as the most important component of a waste management system both in the developed and developing countries. Consequently, recycling is more acceptable than all other forms of waste disposal because it attracts cleaner and sorted wastes. A qualitative study was done to assess the level of public awareness on solid waste materials from the perspective of stakeholders in the Greater Accra Region. The study revealed that though public awareness was satisfactory, a lot more education and sensitization have to be done by government and stakeholders to translate knowledge into concrete attitudes and behaviours that foster participation in the form of waste separation for the sector to deliver the necessary impact on waste management drives in the country, Ghana. The sector which has great potential to create jobs and bring economic prosperity needs more financial support and also a relevant policy that encourages waste separation, to help the sector grow and become more sustainable.