The Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association (GPMA) organized its maiden National Plastic Waste Management Forum in 2017 to gather views from various sectors as part of an integrated approach to developing an effective blueprint to be presented to Government on how we can properly manage our plastic resources for the benefit of every Ghanaian.
In Ghana, the issue of sustainable solid waste management remains a significant challenge. The goal for the National Plastic Waste Management forum was to bring key actors in the plastic industry (Private Sector), Waste Management Policy makers and Multinational Organizations to brainstorm on key component that should be included in any national plastic waste management effort to ensure success.
Over sixty (60) organizations were represented including the Ministry, Environment, Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Sanitation Water Resources, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Polymateria UK, Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, DANIDA, UNDP, The World Bank, German Development Cooperation (GIZ) amongst other tourism, Civil Society Organizations and institutions attended the forum.
The Ghana Plastic Management objective of this forum was to highlight its proposed plastic waste management strategy and seek stakeholder input.
Various views were collected and the following were adopted as the Blueprint to be presented to government through the representing ministries for immediate action;
- Immediate reduction on the importation of Waste Management implements and Equipments for Recycling to boost the Recycling sector
- Government to issue a Moratorium of 100 days for all areas for to be properly cleared
- Government to ensure that National and Assembly Bye-laws can work without fear or favour
- Government to adopt the National Behavioral Change Communication Strategy
- Empowerment of various sectors to take responsibility of our Ocean
- Ministry of Environment and EPA to adequately consider environmental effects that destroy the marines
- Plastic Industry to widen their clean-up structures to cover the entire nation
- Engage stakeholders on proper sensitization programs for coastline dwellers
- Provision of more segregated waste bins to enable easy collection
- Consider the strengthening all Plastic value chain into the Plastic Federation for effective compliance
The next league of stakeholder engagement is the International Plastic Sustainability Conference and Exhibition 2017 (Plastic Waste Conference 2017) which will take into consideration legal structures and its impact for effective marine litter solutions.
