The Russian environmental operator (REO) can supply waste processing equipment to Ghana or build a facility there, the company revealed on Monday.
“Friendly countries are interested in Russian technologies in the field of waste management. [...] We discussed cooperation between Russia and Ghana in the implementation of the principles of a circular economy and technological interaction. We are considering supplying our equipment to the African republic, as well as creating an integrated waste management facility there,” Butsayev said.
The enterprise may be built in the capital of the West African country, Accra. The head of the REO also discussed with the Ambassador of Ghana other possible options for cooperation in creating a waste management system in the African country.
Earlier, the REO organized a tour of the Neva waste processing complex near Moscow for a delegation from Ghana.
The UN estimated that plastic waste is currently the most prevalent form of post-consumer waste in Ghana. It is estimated that the country has about 40 plastic-producing industries that produce over 30,000 tonnes of various plastic products annually, in addition to approx. 12,000 tonnes of imported finished plastic items.
These factors contribute to the country's plastic waste problem. At least 20-30% of these plastic products wind up as litter on the streets. With so few recycling facilities in the country, post-consumer plastic trash has become a major source of worry.
Moreover, electronic waste has also "significantly increased in recent times," creating "serious" health and environmental contamination.
In its report, the UN cited insufficient equipment and operational facilities to support waste management activities as one of the reasons for the growing garbage problem. In this sense, a Russian plant or equipment would assist the African country in solving the problem of proper waste disposal.