By: Ing. Glenn Gyimah (Rev, PhD), Green Transition Limited
As the global community intensifies efforts to address the climate crisis, innovative and cross-sectoral approaches are gaining traction as viable solutions to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote sustainable development.
Among these, waste management—often perceived merely as a sanitation challenge—is emerging as a strategic pillar in climate action. Solid and liquid waste, when effectively managed, can play a significant role in mitigating climate change by reducing emissions, generating renewable energy, supporting circular economies, and catalyzing inclusive green growth (UNEP, 2020).
Despite being a considerable source of GHG emissions, the waste sector remains one of the most underutilized climate mitigation levers, particularly in developing countries. Globally, the waste sector is responsible for approximately 3 to 5 percent of total GHG emissions, primarily through methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from landfills, open dumping, and untreated wastewater (IPCC, 2021).
However, when indirect and downstream impacts such as transport, energy consumption, and land-use change are considered, the sector’s total climate footprint becomes considerably larger (Hoornweg & Bhada-Tata, 2012).
In Ghana, the transformation of waste from an environmental liability to a climate asset is being led by the Jospong Group of Companies.
Through an integrated and innovative approach to waste management, Jospong has not only revolutionized urban sanitation but has positioned itself as a national and continental leader in climate-smart infrastructure, low-carbon development, and green job creation.
Poor waste management is a silent driver of climate change. Organic waste, when deposited in landfills or open dumpsites, undergoes anaerobic decomposition, producing methane—a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe (USEPA, 2022).
Similarly, untreated or poorly managed wastewater and sewage emit substantial amounts of nitrous oxide and methane, pollute freshwater bodies, and contribute to eutrophication and the degradation of aquatic ecosystems (UN-Habitat, 2020).
In low- and middle-income countries, where infrastructure deficits are pronounced, the challenges of managing both solid and liquid waste are exacerbated by rapid urbanization, population growth, and insufficient investment in waste systems (World Bank, 2018).
Open burning of waste is a prevalent practice in these regions, contributing not only to GHG emissions but also to air pollution, human health hazards, and particulate matter that affect climate forcing (WHO, 2021).
The potential for GHG mitigation through improved solid waste management lies primarily in diversion strategies, material recovery, and energy generation. Recycling processes substantially reduce the need for virgin material extraction and energy-intensive manufacturing.
For instance, recycling aluminum saves up to 95 percent of the energy required to produce the same amount from bauxite (EPA, 2020). Similar savings are achieved with paper, plastics, and glass, translating to significant reductions in associated GHG emissions.
Moreover, the establishment of material recovery facilities and decentralized recycling hubs contributes to local economic development and green employment (ILO, 2019). In Ghana, the integration of the informal sector into formal recycling schemes—pioneered by organizations like Jospong—enhances traceability, quality control, and social inclusion (GIZ, 2022).
Composting offers a low-cost, low-tech solution for managing organic waste while reducing methane emissions from anaerobic decay in landfills.
The compost product not only enriches soils but also improves carbon sequestration in agricultural lands, thus contributing to climate resilience in food systems (FAO, 2021).
Municipal composting programs can be linked to urban agriculture and climate-smart farming practices, particularly in peri-urban areas. In Ghana, pilot initiatives have demonstrated the viability of using compost in place of synthetic fertilizers, thereby reducing emissions from fertilizer production and enhancing soil health (MoEn Ghana, 2022).
Energy recovery from non-recyclable solid waste through incineration or anaerobic digestion provides a dual benefit of waste reduction and clean energy generation.
While traditional incineration raises concerns about air pollution and emissions, modern waste-to-energy plants equipped with advanced emission control technologies can significantly reduce GHG emissions when compared to fossil fuel-based power generation (IEA, 2021).
Anaerobic digestion, in particular, is suited for organic and biodegradable waste streams, producing biogas that can be used for electricity, heating, or vehicle fuel. The residual digestate can also be repurposed as a soil conditioner (IRENA, 2019).
Circular economy principles emphasize resource efficiency, lifecycle thinking, and waste minimization. By promoting product reuse, repair, refurbishment, and redesign, circular models extend the lifespan of materials and prevent waste generation at the source (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2020). This results in substantial reductions in upstream emissions and conserves natural resources.
Adopting circular economy strategies requires systemic changes in production, consumption, and governance.
In Ghana, Jospong has aligned waste operations with circular economy goals, particularly in plastics and organic waste value chains.
Liquid waste management remains a major challenge in urban and peri-urban areas, especially where infrastructure for sewage treatment is lacking.
However, with appropriate technologies and policy frameworks, liquid waste can be transformed from a pollutant into a resource.
Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge and other organic-rich liquid waste streams offers a sustainable pathway for renewable energy generation.
The resulting biogas, primarily composed of methane, can be utilized for household cooking, industrial heating, or electricity production, substituting fossil-based energy sources (UNEP, 2019).
In Ghana, biogas systems have been implemented in public institutions such as schools, prisons, and hospitals.
The Jospong Group, through its subsidiaries (Sewage System Ghana Limited), has developed decentralized biogas plants that demonstrate the feasibility of scalable wastewater-to-energy solutions (Ghana EPA, 2023).
Wastewater contains valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Advanced treatment technologies and bioengineering solutions now allow for the extraction and recovery of these nutrients for reuse in agriculture.
This reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, whose production is energy-intensive and associated with significant carbon dioxide emissions (UNESCO, 2021).
Integrating nutrient recovery into wastewater treatment systems contributes to closed-loop nutrient cycles and sustainable agricultural intensification. In urban agriculture, treated wastewater can also be reused for irrigation, reducing freshwater demand and enhancing water-use efficiency (IWMI, 2020).
Constructed wetlands provide a low-energy, low-maintenance alternative for treating wastewater while offering multiple ecosystem services.
These systems function as biological filters, removing contaminants while simultaneously sequestering carbon and supporting biodiversity (Reddy & Delaune, 2008).
When designed effectively, constructed wetlands can act as carbon sinks and improve local microclimates. They are particularly suitable for decentralized wastewater management in rural and peri-urban areas, where conventional sewage infrastructure may be absent or economically unviable (WWAP, 2022).
Beyond emissions reduction, robust waste management systems generate a wide range of socio-economic and environmental co-benefits. Proper waste collection and treatment reduce exposure to pathogens, toxins, and air pollutants. This lowers disease burdens, particularly in vulnerable populations, and reduces healthcare costs and associated emissions (WHO, 2020).
The waste sector is labor-intensive and offers diverse employment opportunities across the value chain—from collection and sorting to processing and energy generation.
When formalized and supported by inclusive policies, waste management can absorb significant labor from the informal sector, contributing to poverty reduction and social equity (ILO, 2021).
Locally produced energy from waste contributes to national energy independence and reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels.
This enhances resilience to global energy price shocks and aligns with national renewable energy targets. Integrated waste systems also support climate-resilient infrastructure and promote the efficient use of resources such as water, land, and materials (UNEP, 2022).
Realizing the full potential of waste management as a climate mitigation tool requires robust institutional support, adequate financing, and policy coherence. National and municipal governments must develop and enforce comprehensive waste management policies that emphasize segregation at source, extended producer responsibility, and environmentally sound disposal (OECD, 2020).
Capital investment in waste collection, transfer stations, recycling facilities, waste-to-energy plants, and wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential. Public-private partnerships should be encouraged to mobilize finance and technical expertise.
Waste sector strategies should be mainstreamed into national climate plans and Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC, 2023).
Public education campaigns and incentive mechanisms are critical to shifting consumer behavior towards waste reduction, segregation, and recycling.
Community participation can amplify the impact of formal waste systems and ensure long-term sustainability.
Waste management is no longer just a sanitation or environmental issue—it is a frontline strategy for climate mitigation, resilience building, and green development.
When managed through integrated, circular, and inclusive approaches, both solid and liquid waste can deliver significant greenhouse gas reductions, promote energy transition, and unlock socio-economic benefits.
In Ghana, the Jospong Group of Companies exemplifies this transformative potential through its climate-smart waste operations. By investing in infrastructure, nurturing innovation, and prioritizing inclusivity, Jospong is not only cleaning up cities but is also enabling the country to meet its climate commitments and drive sustainable development.
As the world continues to grapple with the climate crisis, recognizing waste as a resource rather than a burden will be essential. With the right policies, technologies, and partnerships, the waste sector can become a cornerstone of global climate action.
