Urban Solid Waste Sorting in a Growing City of Ghana

Abstract

Waste sorting is an important process in recycling and safe disposal of waste materials. Challenges and factors affecting urban solid waste sorting in the Metropolitan City of Tamale-Ghana were determined. 84.5% respondents had formal education with 73.7% of this percentage having no knowledge on solid waste sorting. Waste is disposed of in a mixed form and not sorted. Skip containers (58.80%), dustbins (22.47%), door-to-door service (10.57%) and pit system (8.2%) were the disposal methods. In URAs, 30.3% sorted waste at the point of generation compared to 21.4% in PRAs and 17.2% in TCM. Out of the total interviewed, 65.05% were willing to sort waste provided the facilities are available. Provision of different skip containers for URA and CM regarding different waste collection was said to be feasible in waste sorting.  Waste collection and transportation logistics were few resulting in limited coverage and irregular collection services. Direct payment was not made for waste disposal. Education and provision of enough and different waste collection containers is important if waste sorting is to be undertaken.