Waste Not, Want Not

Waste Not, Want Not

“When I think of sustainable waste management in Ghana, one question comes to mind: how do we apply general scientific and entrepreneurial principles to new ideas to create a sustainable, home-grown solution?” So asks Bernadette Dzifa Agbefu, operator of Ghana’s JVL-YKMA Recycling Plant.

The plant takes some of the smelliest stuff in the world—organic and human waste—and turns it into products that can help farmers and families—namely, compost and biofuel briquettes. Going into operation in 2020, the public-private venture is already capable of processing 1,800 tonnes of organic solid waste and 5,000 cubic meters of fecal sludge per year. These are used to produce some 200 tons of compost and 1,000 tons of fuel briquettes.