The Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) is transforming waste management in Ghana, reducing landfill waste by 70% and converting discarded materials into valuable resources.
However, the facility’s General Manager, Michael Padi Tuwor, has stressed a major challenge—Ghana lacks specialized waste collection trucks, making household waste segregation less effective.
Speaking during a tour of the facility by members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC), Tuwor acknowledged the growing awareness among Ghanaians regarding waste separation but stressed the need for logistical improvements.
“The awareness is growing, but without specialized trucks, segregated waste often gets mixed again during collection. If we had more of these trucks and collected waste multiple times a week, we could better manage organic and recyclable materials,” he explained.
ACARP’s parent company, the Jospong Group, has distributed one million free dustbins to households to promote waste segregation at the source and Tuwor believes this will help shift perceptions about waste.
“Once people understand that what we call waste is a resource, they will keep it and even sell it. This will lower operational costs and help households see waste as a valuable commodity,” he noted.
ACARP utilizes a state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to process municipal solid waste. Organic waste is transformed into nutrient-rich compost for agriculture, while plastics such as HDPE, PP, LDPE, and PET are semi-processed into pellets for manufacturers.
“At ACARP, our mandate is to recover as much as we can, add value to waste, and reintroduce it into the system. For us, plastic waste is a resource, not a problem,” Tuwor stated.
Assistant Plant Manager Benjamin Asante Ayeh emphasized the plant’s remarkable impact, noting that ACARP has cut landfill waste by 70% by recovering plastics, textiles, and other reusable materials and turning organic trash into compost.
“By diverting waste into recycling, we not only reduce landfill congestion but also create raw materials for industries. Organic compost, for example, enriches the soil, extends crop shelf life, and minimizes the damage caused by artificial fertilizers,” Ayeh explained.
ACARP’s innovative approach is drawing international attention. Tuwor revealed that multiple African nations—including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, and Ethiopia—are replicating ACARP’s model.
“Almost every week, we receive delegations from across Africa who want to learn from us. We have currently established a similar facility in Lagos and other countries,” he disclosed.
Both Tuwor and Ayeh stressed the importance of government support in sustaining ACARP’s operations. They called for increased subsidies to help cover operational costs and expand the plant’s reach.
“Without government intervention, our impact would be limited. Support from policymakers is crucial to keeping our waste management revolution alive,” Ayeh remarked.
Tuwor warned that failing to sustain ACARP’s progress could have dire health consequences and the attendant financial burden, urging further investment in waste management infrastructure.