The proposed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law is poised to recognize and integrate Ghana’s informal waste collectors into the country’s formal waste management system, marking a significant shift in the nation’s approach to waste disposal. Speaking at the JoyNews/IMANI Africa National Dialogue on Plastic Waste Management on August 11, Mr. Larry Kotoe, Ag. Director for Sustainability and Circular Economy of the EPA, highlighted the law’s design prioritizing integration rather than disruption of existing operations. ‘We’ve intentionally designed the draft EPR law to incorporate these informal actors,’ Mr. Kotoe explained. ‘We call it integration.’
He emphasized that the framework will define the precise role of informal operators within the EPR framework, specifically at the district assembly level, where local authorities and local government structures hold considerable influence on waste management. This localized approach is key to effective implementation.
Mr. Kotoe stressed the importance of traceability as a core requirement of the proposed framework. ‘If an informal sector cannot provide us with reliable traceability, then we need to assign them a different role where we can actually push the way that they collect to a place where we can trace it,’ he stated. This aims to improve accountability across the waste management chain.
Furthermore, the draft framework encourages informal waste operators to form cooperatives and associations, facilitating greater collaboration and coordination among these stakeholders. ‘When they are performing their roles, we see them as a group,’ Mr. Kotoe elaborated. ‘We then incentivize them appropriately.’
The move is part of a broader national strategy to strengthen Ghana’s waste management system by establishing clearly defined and coordinated roles across the entire value chain. Experts anticipate this EPR law will contribute to a more structured and accountable relationship between informal waste operators, local authorities, and other key players within the sector, ultimately leading to improved coordination and enhanced performance within Ghana’s waste management infrastructure.
The EPA is also incorporating this integration into larger initiatives aiming to modernize and strengthen the nation’s waste management system by ensuring that different actors within the value chain have clearly defined and coordinated roles, moving towards a more sustainable and efficient waste handling process.
This integration represents a vital step toward creating a more robust and environmentally conscious waste management system in Ghana, contributing significantly to the country’s overall sustainability goals.
According to preliminary reports, the EPA is incorporating the integration of these informal waste collectors into the EPR framework, recognizing the crucial role these operators play in the nation’s waste management landscape.
The proposed EPR law is a key component of a larger initiative to enhance the entire waste management sector, reinforcing the need for a collaborative and accountable approach to waste handling throughout Ghana. The development of these cooperatives and associations will further bolster this collaborative effort.
The draft legislation is designed to ensure that these informal operators continue to contribute to waste collection, aligning with the broader goals of a more sustainable and efficient waste management system. The EPA has indicated that the traceability requirement is a critical element of the framework to ensure accountability and proper handling of collected waste. The success of this integration will likely have a substantial impact on the nation’s waste management practices.
These changes reflect a commitment to strengthening Ghana’s waste management practices through a collaborative and well-coordinated approach. Further analysis will examine the potential economic and social impacts of this integration.
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Source: Adom Online
