Waste Management Operators In Dire Need Of Recycling Plant

By Lawrence Manu-Gyan 

Scrap dealers at the Adenta Scrap Centre in the Sunyani municipality are calling on the government and stakeholders in the waste management sector to establish a scrap and plastic recycling plant in the municipality to help improve their operations as far as waste management is concerned. Scrap metal recycling has been in existence since the 18th century. 

The Industrial Revolution which saw the emergence of large metallurgical industries was commonly regarded as the period when large-scale metal recycling truly commenced. Its economic importance cannot be overemphasized as it directly and indirectly employs many people in the sector Research conducted by Andrews Nkansah in 2015 revealed that huge revenues are accruing from the scrap metal industry in the Sunyani municipality and promise immense economic benefits. 

Despite these prospects, Players in the industry think the government is not doing enough, to help the industry.  This, some scrap dealers in the Sunyani Municipality have described as unfortunate, saying, aside from creating employment opportunities and generating income for households, they also contribute to ridding the environment of waste. 

According to a management member of the Adenta Scrap Centre, Mohammed Zito Dahada, establishing a plant in the municipality will eliminate inconveniences, especially with the transportation of the materials to the industries in Tema, and consequently lead to the effective discharge of their operations. 

“It cost us Three Thousand Ghana Cedis to transport a truckload of scraps to our clients in Tema and that put a strain on our meager funds. I believe if we get a Recycling Plant in the municipality our operations will be easier and cost-effective we are therefore pleading with stakeholders to establish a plant here to help us in our operations” 

Aside from transportation, he stated that branding the scrap dealers as criminals as a result of the activities of a few of them, is also a challenge they face on a daily basis.  There is also a financial challenge which he said can be resolved through the provision of loan facilities by the government to fund their operations.  Meanwhile selling scrap is a way for people to make some money. Some residents who had come to sell scraps told me that getting money for what amounts of waste around the house is ideal, describing it as using one stone to kill two birds. 

On plastic waste management, Mr. Zito explained that although his company also deals in plastics, they are not as much into it as metals because of the many limitations associated with plastic waste management. 

“If it were possible I think all of us (Scrap dealers) would have ventured into plastic waste because I think the plastic is even more in the system than the metal waste but because plastic can take up space which makes gathering and keeping difficult. So I think if we had a Plastic waste Plant in Sunyani it would have mitigated these challenges”.