The main challenges facing plastic waste management in the Tano South Municipality are;
vii. Low community awareness, knowledge, and technical capacity with chemicals, heavy metals, and wastes. The impacts of chemicals and heavy metals on humans and ecosystems are not always obvious to local communities, with low recognition until scientific or medical tests are done, which poor and vulnerable communities lack.
viii. Inadequate infrastructure and waste collection services. Less than 40% of urban residents are served with waste collection services.
ix. Collection system is broken down. According to the current management system in Tano South Municipal, residents need to pay for waste management?many won?t or can?t. Because residents are not able to pay regularly, Tano South Municipal Assembly cannot maintain the trash trucks with most of them broken down leaving a lot of waste uncollected within the municipal.
x. Littering, dumping, and open burning. A majority of Bechem?s residents live in low-income, densely populated communities, with inadequate infrastructure and services. Residents often dump their waste into open spaces, drains, and rivers, which contributes to flooding in Ghana?s rainy season or on open spaces. Others resort to burning it on the side of the road.
xi. Lack of integrated approach to adopting an integrated approach for policy development and design of strategies for greening the solid waste management (SWM) sector. There is a need to depart from dealing with environmental and social considerations in isolation from mainstream economic policies
xii. Informal waste pickers. Informal waste collectors load carts or tricycles with refuse from poor areas that can?t pay monthly fees for private waste collection, aren?t served by them, or aren?t able to easily access Zoomlion remaining trash collection points.
1.4 Project Approach
The Strategic Approach
The integrated project will include the following activities:
? The first step to develop an efficient waste collection system where the sorting of waste is done at household levels. This approach requires the supply of different waste collection bins for degradable and non-degradable materials. This will be preceded by an intensive public education system to teach and train households on the waste sorting system. Hundreds of Youth would be employed to educate, advocate, distribute bins and organize the household as partners.
? The second step is to build an efficient brigade that collects the waste from houses and designated streets to the main sorting centers. Youth would be trained in the use of tricycles to collect waste under very hygienic conditions. The collection would be done on daily basis to avoid decay and decomposition which can create an atmospheric nuisance.
? The third step is the collection and sorting out centers. The project will set up multiple Mobile shredders to shreds and reduce the plastic particles into smaller sizes. (Multiple mobile shredders to be able to transport bulk waste materials into smaller sizes and also to be able to get closer to waste collection points across a wide area to reduce cost of hauling bulk waste). The shredded materials are bagged into 50kg bags to be sent to the processing sites. The waste would be sent to the centre where facilities for further sorting out would be done. Trained personnel would be on hand to further sort the waste. Multiple mobile shredders would be procured to shreds and reduce the plastic particles into smaller sizes
? The fourth step is the processing of the non-degradable plastic waste into different uses. The project will apply most batch-based technologies to process the plastics. The Plastic Digester as a boiler with an agitator/stirrer that uniformly stirs the waste lubricants to a temp between 120-150 degrees Celsius you then add the recipe from secondary shredder into the boiler (50%). It stirs for about 45 minutes to a uniform paste to a temperature of about 280 degrees Celsius by then most of the material would have fused which is fed into various moulds. The mould and its content are then lowered into cooling tanks to solidify. The solidified product is then ejected from the mould ready to be used for its intended activity as Lumber. The plastic lumber would be used the construction of public facilities like schools, markets, clinics, etc.
? The fifth step is the processing of the degradable waste into bio-fertilizer. In partnership with the poultry farmers and cattle rears, waste will be collected as inputs into the organic fertilizer production. The project will support the utilization of organic fertilizer for commercial vegetable and food crop production under greenhouse farming systems. Horticultural crops mostly vegetables would be the main productions. Several youths would be employed to produce organic products for the consuming markets under the certification process.
Supporting Strategies
The essential strategies to support the scaling up of the business development model include:
1. Knowledge and advocacy
2. Community and stakeholders involvement (organization of weekly clean up campaigns such as Green Fridays)
3. Investment and partnership.
Target groups and final beneficiaries
Municipal Assembly (MA)
? Bechem Municipality has waste backlog of 61,970 tons per day in open drains, and water bodies which results in flooding during the raining season. The Municipal Assembly is able to process only 1% of the waste (excluding plastics). The remaining 99% are discarded either in landfills or elsewhere in the environment. Unfortunately, 100% of all Municipal Assembly owned and public managed sewage/fecal are not treated because there is no sewage/fecal plant in the Municipality.
? This project will enable the MA to sort out and process waste and create community awareness in minimizing waste, maximizing resources recovery, and minimizing negative environmental impacts of the system. It will save the MA half the cost of managing waste under the current arrangement. Reducing waste matters will protect the environment, protect the health, and save money. Adopting an integrated approach for solid waste management will ensure the integration of environmental, economic, and social considerations within the sectoral and macroeconomic policies. Key considerations are social justice, job creation, health promotion, poverty reduction, and equitable distribution of wealth, preservation of the environment, and human welfare at the heart of solving the waste management problem if genuine sustainable development is to be achieved.
Unemployed Youth (Young Professionals)
? A large proportion of Youth graduates most of which have been trained in sanitation management, social work, and engineering are unemployed in the Municipality. The poor management approach to solid waste management in the Municipality is the result of the negative attitudes of the general public towards solid waste and the environment in general. There is an inadequate waste infrastructure to transform the waste into other uses. There are inadequate equipment and operational funds to support waste management activities. This coupled with poor planning of waste management programs and lack of political will to enforce bye-laws on sanitation and building regulations by the Municipal Assembly calls for immediate intervention.
? This project will mobilize and support the youth to form social enterprises that will invest in integrated waste management as a business to earn a living. The project will organize training for young professionals (school teachers, imams, association members, housekeepers, etc.) through workshops designed to help them promote eco-citizenship, and to present a profitable approach to waste management, based on the rational management of resources. The project will build an efficient brigade that collects the waste from houses and designated streets to the main sorting centers. The project will select and train 100 Youth (40% women) and in the use of new high-quality waste collection tricycles to collect waste under very hygienic conditions from homes and designated points within the town.
Market operators, hoteliers, Poultry farmers, cattle ranchers, carpenters and restaurants operators
Waste generated by local industries, market operators, poultry farmers, cattle ranchers, carpenters, and restaurant operators is an additional cost to production. With the poor urban waste management system, most of these stakeholders often have challenges in disposing off their waste. This project will set up waste collection centers at the various dumping grounds in the suburb of the urban center institutions, commercial areas, industrial areas hotels, and food vendors to sort out the waste and process them for other uses. Multiple mobile shredders will be procured to shreds and reduce the plastic particles into smaller sizes at various points where the waste churned will be more for collection. The project will build multiple mobile shredders to be able to transport bulk waste materials into smaller sizes and also to be able to get closer to waste collection points across a wide area to reduce the cost of hauling bulk waste.
Rural Youth Farmers
? Tano South is among the low fertilizer consuming districts in Ghana. In the rural areas, the high cost of fertilizer coupled with its unavailability makes farmers shun fertilizer usage. This has affected production levels making farming very unattractive to the youth. This project will promote utilization of the organic fertilizer for commercial food production, and vegetables under greenhouse farming systems. Vegetables and horticulture would be the main production. Several youths would be supported to invest in commercial organic agriculture to produce organic products for the consuming markets under the certification process.
? Persons with disabilities will fit into the project, as they will be involved in producing multiple-use bags from plastic waste.
Project Goal and Objectives:
The goal of this project is to build the capacities of the households who will benefit from this project to adapt to efficient collection of waste generated and design technology solutions to improve reusability, refurbishment and recyclability of plastic.
The project objectives are to:
1. Establish waste collection, sorting, and disposal systems in five (5) communities in Tano South Municipal by the end of the project.
2. Set up a small business model of waste processing and recycling facility involving technology to turn waste into organic fertilizer and plastic waste into construction materials.
3. Support women, youth, and disabled people to develop income generation and livelihood development in integrated waste management with co-benefit from composting of sorted organic waste for agriculture.
Key Expected Outcome:
? 1400 tons/year of plastic waste collected, sorted and re-purposed.
? 2,000 Beneficiaries involving in waste collection and recycling.
? One community integrated recycling facility and compost plant established in Bechem.
? 5,000 small-scale farmers involved in climate smart organic commercial farming.
1.5 Description of Project Activities
1. Establish waste collection, sorting and disposal systems in five (5) communities in Tano South Municipal
PLANNED ACTIVITIES:
1.1 Conduct survey within the project area:
Conducting survey within the Tano South Municipal to determine the types and quantities of waste in selected pilot project areas and assess their potential for recycling or reuse. Though a baseline survey was carried out prior to the submission of this proposal, the project team together with some of the stakeholders will conduct community baseline assessment to further define in quantitative terms the problem on the ground. The data collected will have indicators against which the project outputs will be measured.
1.2 Form and Train Project Management Team (PMT) for the Project:
The PMT members will be elected from the Tano South Municipality, the community that is going to benefit from the project, major stakeholders, and the staff of Save Our Environment Foundation. The PMT members will be taken through the project outputs, objectives and the tools they will use to measure the progress of the project.
1.3 Select and train individuals and organizations:
Training individuals and organizations in methods for reuse and recycling of solid waste such as composting for urban and rural farming, cottage industries and energy generation.
All beneficiaries from the Tano South Municipal and some organizations will be selected and trained on how to disaggregate waste, recycling and reuse of it. This will go a long way to sustain the project and also help the households to generate income to support their living. Dust bins will be provided through the project to households to separate the waste they generate.
1.4 Conduct monitoring and evaluation of the project:
Monitoring and evaluation of the project on a regular and consistent basis to ensure that the expected results are delivered as well as initiating corrective action where incorrect course of actions has developed. This activity will involve the Project Management Team, major stakeholders, external evaluator and the donor. This will help track the success stories of the project and also sustain it.
2. Set up a small business model of waste processing and recycling facility involving technology to turn waste into organic fertilizer and plastic waste into construction materials.
PLANNED ACTIVITIES:
2.1 Train poor household beneficiaries on simple book keeping
Since most of the households are non-literates coupled with the fact that all they lack is business enterprise development skills, the project will organize four (4) hands-on-training workshops targeting at least 100 households to upgrade their skills and knowledge on simple book keeping practice such as keeping data and making entries, and calculating for the waste generated.
2.2 Provide garbage containers for households:
Install garbage containers for households in residential areas and public areas for the purposes of appropriate collection. Some households will be selected and agreements will be signed with them to disaggregate garbage in their households. Also some public places such as markets and schools will be provided with waste bins to segregate the wastes produced.
2.3 Build partnership with private sector businesses:
Invite and facilitate the private sector businesses in environmentally-sound waste collection, separation, transport, disposal and reuse or recycling. Some private businesses will be selected and trained on the project outcomes, objectives and what the project intends to achieve. They will be given garbage containers for separation and collection of garbage. They will be motivated to support the project and also educate their members.
2.4 Identify site for the waste generated for the production of organic compost:
Using Environmental Impact Assessment procedures will identify, construct and make operationally suitable waste disposal sites. Environmental Protection Agency and Zoomlion Company will be contacted to look for sites that will be suitable for the dumping of the waste that will be collected for use.
2.4 Purchase tricycles for the collection of Solid Waste:
Some tricycles will be purchased for the collection of the garbage from the households and some selected public places to the recycling plant. This will facilitate the transportation of materials from the sites of production help the project and also sustain it.
2.5 Construct solid waste treatment plant: The project will construct a solid waste treatment plant that will be used to recycle the waste for reuse. This plant will be manned by the beneficiaries and it will be used to generate fund to sustain the project after the donor fund. Staffs will be trained on the use of the plant on how to operate and service as well.
3. Support women, youth, and disabled people to develop income generation and livelihood development in integrated waste management with co-benefit from composting of sorted organic waste for agriculture
Women beneficiaries of the project would be trained in beekeeping, poultry farming, small ruminant rearing, orchard cultivation (mango, pawpaw) to allow other streams of income flow and reduce dependency on males. They would be provided with bee hives, beekeeping tools and gear, incubators, fertilized eggs, brooder houses, poultry sheds and seedlings for fruit farming.
PLANNED ACTIVITIES:
3.1 Organize the beneficiaries into activity groups.
3.2 Train and support the trust groups in beekeeping, poultry farming, small ruminant rearing, orchard cultivation (mango, pawpaw) according to preference.
3.3 Set up and operate Village Savings and Loan schemes for the Groups.