Empowering waste pickers in Ghana to create an alternative urban waste management system

  • Country: Ghana
  • Organisation: Environment360
  • Support area: Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions
  • IKI funding: 116,968 euros
  • Project start: 01/08/2022
  • Project end: 30/09/2024
  • Website: www.environment360gh.org

The area of Tema New Town in southern Ghana lacks organised waste collection services due to inhabitants’ inability to afford them. Consequently, waste is being dumped or burned along the coastal line. To tackle this, Environment360 established a Pick-It sorting centre in Tema New Town to improve livelihoods of waste pickers and support an alternative waste collection system in line with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions, which are the heart of the Paris Agreement in 2015 and embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The project funded by IKI Small Grants targeted 30 waste picker leaders (70% women), providing them with direct training and support. These leaders subsequently forwarded their knowledge to additional 300 residents in Tema New Town and surrounding areas. This effort increased the overall volume of recycled plastic, thereby reducing the amount of plastic that is illegally disposed of or burned.

GALLERY

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woman participating at flaker training
This project trained more than 70% of women as direct beneficiaries. Women not only participated in capacity training but also made up the majority of the beneficiaries for the machinery training. © Environment360
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men participating in flaker training
The project provided training on developing operational and safety rules, along with practical skills for operating the flaker, which processes plastics to boost their selling price and increase waste pickers’ income. ©Environment360
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Training of waste pickers
Environment360 trains waste picker leaders using a Training of Trainers format, organising group discussions to co-design training on business capacity, leadership, digital financial literacy, and planning skills. ©Environment360
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Group presentation on profit and loss determination during practical session of training
The project provided business and financial literacy training, including group presentations on profit and loss, bookkeeping, and climate change sessions with Q&A and exchanges. ©Environment360
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Woman at National Health Insurance Registration
Health and safety measures were promoted, including waste pickers' registration with the National Health Insurance (NHIS). ©Environment360
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Storage Space Construction
Cooperative business models for municipal plastic collection were developed to boost recycling, reduce incineration, and cut landfill waste, alongside the construction of storage for better plastic separation. ©Environment360

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

IKI Small Grants supports Environment360 in their organisational capacity development through:

  • Training on grant writing
  • Training on monitoring and evaluation
  • General trainings on time management, negotiation, conflict, leadership, and report writing

Project video

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

IPFG

Environment360 is a non-profit organisation founded in 2014. Its vision is to develop inclusive circular economies that reduce poverty, increase resiliency and support climate adaption. The organisation’s programmes focus on enabling women, youth and persons with disabilities to mainstream science, technology, and innovation in all socio-economic activities to support zero-waste communities and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Environment360 supports the development of green job skills that increase resilience in urban cities and enhances the quality of life in rural communities.