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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.

Background

Ghana generates over 180,000 tons of e-waste annually. Much of this ends up in landfill sites like Agbogbloshie, where informal recyclers, often children and young men, burn components in the open air, inhaling toxic fumes for minimal pay. This causes severe environmental damage and significant human health risks. 

Electro Recycling Ghana (ERG) has addressed this problem by building a formal, environmentally sound e-waste recycling system. They introduced certified facilities to process e-waste and launched programs to train and employ youth in informal recycling. ERG also refurbishes discarded electronics and redistributes them affordably, helping over 500 families access digital tools.  

Challenges that will be solved

This initiative guarantees that all collected e-waste will be processed in a sustainable manner. Swisscontact is working with ERG to create proof of concept and is also supporting the provision of 12 container models as a pilot initiative. ERG aims to scale up the model to 2,000 hubs across the country. Their intervention transforms e-waste into an economic opportunity, cleaning up the environment and bridging the digital divide. 

Key Components

SesaTec is a model recycling ecosystem that promotes sustainable e-waste management and inclusive access to digital resources. Its key features include: 

Youth Training and Employment Programs that transition informal recyclers into safe, skilled jobs within the formal recycling sector. 

Device Refurbishment and Redistribution, enabling over 500 families so far to access affordable, repurposed digital tools, thereby bridging the digital divide. 

Community Collection Hubs, piloted through 12 container models supported by Swisscontact, which will serve as designated drop-off points for e-waste across Ghana. 

Scalable Model with plans to expand to 2,000 hubs nationwide, creating green jobs, improving public awareness, and reinforcing sustainable recycling habits. 

Certified E-waste Processing Facilities that safely dismantle, recycle, and dispose of electronics, reducing environmental and health hazards. 

Vision

SesaTec envisions a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive Ghana—where e-waste is no longer a threat but an opportunity. By transforming electronic waste into a resource for economic empowerment and digital inclusion, SesaTec is pioneering a new circular economy model that benefits people and the planet. 

Through a network of certified facilities, trained youth, and accessible recycling hubs, SesaTec aims to clean up Ghana’s environment, formalize the recycling sector, and ensure that more families can participate in the digital age. This initiative proves that with the right investment and partnerships, waste can fuel innovation, employment, and national progress.