The WaterAndWaste.org team visited the Spaceplast Plastic Recycling plant in Greater Accra, Ghana, on September 15, 2022
The Water and Waste Project team’s visit to a plastic recycling plant in Greater Accra, Ghana, on September 15, 2022, provided a comprehensive view of the complex processes involved in combating the region’s burgeoning plastic waste challenge.
The WaterAndWaste.org team observing the recycling process at the facility
Waste management and local business initiatives discussion
This educational field visit took the team to a recycling company, where discarded recyclable plastics, particularly from water sachets, were reconfigured into raw materials for an array of new plastic products.
The plant’s managers guided the team through each stage of the recycling process, underscoring the importance of sorting, thorough cleaning, and efficient reprocessing of plastic waste. Intriguing, washing of collected sachet plastic occurred at two stages, highlighting the close inter-linkages between water and waste not just for households but for businesses too.
The team was shown around the different areas of the recycling plant
The WaterAndWaste.org team is guided by the Spaceplast Plant Manager
Asking questions regarding the facility and the recycling process
This insightful field visit to the Spaceplast Recycling plant underscored the remarkable synergy between local business initiatives and environmental conservation, offering valuable employment opportunities while addressing pressing waste management concerns. The team observed the delivery and sorting of plastic waste, witnessing its conversion into reusable pellets, an instrumental step towards promoting a circular economy and minimizing environmental degradation.
The plant processed 100 tonnes of discarded plastics per day in peak season, dropping to 40 tonnes per day in low season. This highlights the sheer quantity of plastics that were taken out of the environment, not only by the recycling plant but also the many formal and informal businesses in the waste collection chain linking the plant back to households. These figures also show the remarkable seasonal variation in population demand for packaged water across Greater Accra in response to climate, but also the way that prices can fluctuate seasonal in response to plastic supply and demand.
Plastic waste ready for processing
Reusable plastic pellets
Conversion of plastic waste into reusable pellet
It was abundantly clear that the visit left an enduring impression on the team, underscoring the imperative for collaborative endeavours and innovative solutions to confront the pressing issue of plastic pollution not only in Ghana but also as a global challenge requiring immediate attention and innovative solutions.