Solid waste management

Abstract

The study is about the informal management of waste in respect to the recycling of scrap metals in the Accra Metropolitan Area. The study focused on the contribution of the informal sector in the management of waste in Accra as well as their overall contribution to the national economy. Other aspects of the study include the organizational structure of the informal waste management industry, the actors in the industry as well as interaction in the industry. In order to obtain a holistic view of the waste industry, a study of the general waste management in the metropolis was studied including the partnership with the private sector.

The study was more on the structure and interaction in the informal metal business and therefore structuration theory and actor oriented approach were used in explaining the various rules and regulations which has been established over the years as well as the actors who interact daily and use the rules to their benefit. Qualitative methods of observation, participant observation and interviews were used to obtain information from the field (Accra metropolis). Moreover, articles and archives from library were made use to give more insight into the informal economy in general.

The study shows that the informal sector plays a significant role in the management of waste in the metropolis which has not been noticed by the city authorities, the general public and civil organizations. However the scrap industry is a profitable venture which employs a large number of people who make their living by collecting the metals, transporting and recycling the metals. The impact to the national economy is very broad.

The study suggested three areas which can enable the informal waste industry to be more profitable and these include recognizing the informal waste managers as major partners in the waste management industry and effort also is needed in building up a relationship with the actors which will lead to trust building. Finally civil organizations can help by mobilizing the actors especially those at the lower level in forming cooperatives in order to access funds to expand their business.