Ghana and Germany have been urged to deepen cooperation in plastic waste recycling and management using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) technology to promote a circular economy and protect the environment. This call was made by Mr. Frederik Landshöft, the German Ambassador to Ghana, during a tour of SARA rPET, a flagship brand of recycled PET flakes and pellets produced by Polytank in the Free Zones enclave at Tema.
The PET recycling process involves collecting, sorting, cleaning, and transforming discarded plastics into reusable raw materials or new products. Mr. Landshöft described the facility as Ghana's only food-grade bottle-to-bottle PET recycling facility, where used plastic bottles are processed into raw materials for bottle production. He noted that the facility demonstrates the potential of turning plastic waste into value locally.
The Ambassador emphasized that the recycling chain, from collection and sorting to processing and manufacturing, would create stable jobs and strengthen local economies. He also highlighted the significance of reusing processed plastic for the circular economy, as it helps factories turn old items into new goods like containers, clothing, and building materials.
Ghana generates approximately 1.1 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, with a daily generation of around 3,000 metric tonnes across the country. However, reports indicate that only about 5% to 9.5% of this plastic waste is collected and recycled, leaving the vast majority mismanaged. Mr. Landshöft suggested that Ghana and Germany could exchange ideas and best practices to address waste and pollution for the benefit of both countries.
Mr. Girender Mohinani, Business Head of Polytank, called for concrete government policies to encourage the use of recycled materials and strengthen the country's circular economy. He noted that they had created value across the recycling chain, including for collectors and aggregators, and proposed policies such as minimum recycled-content requirements, incentives, improved standards, and stronger collection infrastructure to help expand the industry.
Mr. Mohinani identified public education, proper waste sorting, and PVC labels as major challenges to PET recycling. He explained that PVC contamination could render batches of PET bottles unusable. The company's franchise collection network in Ghana can handle approximately 2,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste per month, leading to an annual production of 13,200 metric tonnes of recycled materials.
The social impact of the SARA rPET project has been significant, with 30% wage growth for recycling sector employees, 60% of whom are women, and 52% of the 60 being major breadwinners of households. According to Mr. Mohinani, data shows that 3.6 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated annually in Nigeria and Ghana, with only 9% being collected for recycling.
Key points
- Ghana and Germany are being encouraged to deepen cooperation in PET recycling to promote a circular economy and protect the environment.
- Ghana generates approximately 1.1 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 5-9.5% being collected and recycled.
- The SARA rPET project has created 30% wage growth for recycling sector employees, with 60% being women and 52% being major breadwinners of households.
