Logistic Challenges in Urban Waste Management in Ghana (A case of Tema Metropolitan Assembly)

Abstract

Waste handling is one of the greatest challenges facing humankind in modern times in spite of the numerous technological advancements that the world has experienced in recent times. The issue of waste management is a major problem confronting Ghana with detrimental effects on the nation’s economy, health of the citizenry and the social standing of the nation among community of nations. This problem is of keen concern to Ghana, particularly when it is clear that Ghana is one of the nations in South Saharan African with the potential of becoming a major tourism destination to many nationals the world over.  The study therefore sought to identify the logistical issues that confront the most industrious metropolis of Ghana - the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), in the management of waste within the metropolis. The researchers employed a combination of simple random and purposive sampling techniques to conduct cross sectional survey on 182 samples during the conduct of the study. The study found that waste management companies operating within the metropolis seriously lack the desired logistics to execute their mandates of ensuring a clean city. The study further established inadequacy of household waste collection bins as the key logistics that the waste management companies lacked. This therefore prevents households from separating waste into the various components for easy management.  Food debris, plastic solid waste, paper waste, bottles, cans/metals as well as old clothes were the main waste generated in the TMA.  The study concludes that there is a general lack of key logistics (waste collection bins, trucks and site technologies) to manage waste in the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.

Key words: logistics, waste, management, climatic, humankind