Fiapre: Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), has called for a national re-thinking on the use and management of plastic waste. She emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in how Ghana addresses plastic pollution, suggesting that plastics should be viewed not merely as waste but as a valuable resource.
According to Ghana News Agency, Prof Klutse made these remarks during a forum on World Environment Day organized by the Department of Environmental Management of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) at Fiapre near Sunyani. The event was held under the theme 'Repurpose Plastic Use'. Prof Klutse, who participated virtually, highlighted that Ghana generates over one billion tons of municipal waste annually, with only 58 percent being properly managed. The remaining 42 percent is either incinerated, buried, or irresponsibly discarded, thereby impacting biodiversity, public health, and livelihoods reliant on natural resources.
Prof Klutse pointed out that unmanaged plastics present serious environmental and health hazards, ranging from microplastic pollution to the contamination of water bodies. She advocated for the adoption of the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and more importantly, Refuse. The EPA, she stated, is committed to driving this transformation agenda through enhanced regulatory measures, supporting innovative recycling businesses, and strengthening public-private partnerships.
She outlined a three-pillar strategy focusing on policy-driven transformation, enforcement of the National Plastic Management Policy, and the establishment of standardized extended producer responsibility. Prof Klutse also announced the launch of Ghana's Circular Plastic Innovation Hub, which aims to advance biodegradable alternatives and waste-to-value initiatives, including projects converting plastic waste into recycled construction materials.
Plans are also in place to expand the 'Repurpose Ghana' campaign. Prof Klutse urged households, educational institutions, and businesses to segregate waste, adopt reusable packaging, and support local recycling markets.
Dr Mary Antwi, the Head of the Department of Environmental Management at UENR, stressed the need to change narratives around plastics. She noted that the mismanagement of plastics, not the material itself, is the problem. Dr Antwi encouraged stakeholders to rethink their relationship with plastics and to innovate solutions for reusing plastic waste and reducing single-use plastics. These efforts, she said, are crucial in reducing plastic pollution in landfills and oceans.
Dr Antwi added that UENR looks forward to collaborating with the EPA under a World Bank project to establish a Center for E-waste Management and Environmental Sustainability, promoting responsible environmental practices.
