Towards municipal solid waste source separation at the household level in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Municipal solid waste source separation at the household level has been endorsed as the way forward by all stakeholders in the waste management sector in Ghana. The study using waste stream analyses and laboratory investigations assesses the feasibility of this intervention in the Accra Metropolitan Area which has been divided into three income zones. The mean waste percentage composition was dominated by 75% organic and 8% plastic waste. Mean values for total carbon, available carbon, nitrogen, C/N and moisture values were 90.2, 45.1, 1.83, 27.6 and 51.7% respectively. The low income high density zone recorded higher separation levels followed by high income low density and middle income low density zones. The study recommends that the policies to guide its successful implementation should be supported by public education and the right infrastructure. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.