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Recycling

Waste is a major social and environmental problem in Ghana. the waste management in place in the country is not functioning as it should. The sector is mostly informal with very few formalized businesses operating in it.Some of the identified pilots and areas of interest are around improving the waste value chain, wastewater treatment and community waste management.

Background

Ghana’s waste management system operates through both formal and informal channels, shaped by rapid urbanization, population growth, and infrastructural limitations. The country has become a major destination for electronic waste, receiving around 150,000 tons annually. While cities have some structured waste collection services, rural areas largely depend on traditional practices like open dumping and burning. Even in urban settings, there’s a significant gap between the volume of waste generated and the capacity to collect it, with landfills remaining the primary disposal method. These practices contribute to serious environmental and public health issues, including air and water pollution, respiratory conditions, and diseases linked to contaminated water. 

Waste is a major social and environmental problem in Ghana. The waste management in the country is not functioning as it should. The sector is mostly informal with very few formalized businesses operating in it. Some of the identified pilots and areas of interest are around improving the waste value chain, wastewater treatment, and community waste management. 

Swisscontact Ghana’s Approach and Interventions

As part of its broader decarbonization and sustainability agenda, Swisscontact Ghana is addressing these challenges through a series of targeted interventions designed to formalize the sector, build local capacity, and promote circular economy principles.  

One of the flagship initiatives is the Sustainable E-Waste Solutions and Training Centre (SesaTec), developed in partnership with Electro Recycling Ghana (ERG). 

Complementing this is ReCircle Ghana, a stakeholder dialogue platform launched by Swisscontact to foster collaboration across the recycling value chain. 

Together, these initiatives reflect Swisscontact’s commitment to transforming Ghana’s waste sector into a driver of environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth. By integrating technical innovation, community empowerment, and policy engagement, Swisscontact is helping to build a resilient, low-carbon future rooted in circular economy principles. 

Brands

Sesatec
As electronic waste continues to pile up across Ghana, informal recycling practices pose serious risks to both human health and the environment. Sites like Agbogbloshie have become hubs for unregulated e-waste processing, where individuals—often youth—burn toxic materials for minimal income. The lack of formal recycling infrastructure has made it difficult to manage this growing challenge sustainably.
 To respond, Electro Recycling Ghana (ERG), with support from Swisscontact, is piloting a scalable model for safe, environmentally sound e-waste collection and recycling under an initiative called Sesatec. By combining training, employment, and digital access, Sesatec turns a pressing environmental problem into a pathway for inclusive green growth.
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Events and Articles

Ghana
12.05.2025
Strengthening Ghana’s Recycling Ecosystem: ‘Recircle Ghana’ Dialogues Launched 
Swisscontact Ghana has hosted the inaugural Recircle Ghana stakeholder meetup, the first in a series of dialogues aimed at strengthening collaboration and innovation within Ghana’s recycling ecosystem.

Held at the Swisscontact Ghana office in Accra, the intimate session brought together key players from across the recycling value chain, including representatives from, TID Global International, Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, Pangea Africa, AHK Ghana, Maiden Environmental Services.
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Ghana
23.04.2025
From Scrap to Solution: How SesaTec Is Turning E-Waste into Empowerment
In a move toward sustainable development and youth empowerment, Swisscontact Ghana (SC Ghana) has partnered with Electro Recycling Ghana (ERG) to pilot SesaTec, a transformative initiative designed to turn electronic waste into tools for economic and social progress.
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Ghana
18.03.2025
Driving Sustainability: Zero Waste to Landfill Dialogue 
Can Ghana turn its waste crisis into a circular economy success story? With landfills overflowing, plastic clogging waterways, and harmful fumes rising from open waste burning, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. On 18 March 2024, Swisscontact Ghana, in partnership with the Swiss Embassy and the Association of Ghana Industries, brought together changemakers at the “Zero Waste to Landfill – It Is Possible” dialogue. Hosted at the residence of the Swiss Ambassador, the event sparked bold conversations and showcased innovative approaches to tackling Ghana’s waste challenge—highlighting that sustainability isn’t just a choice, it’s an imperative.
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