By 2030, Africa will consume 341 million tons of plastic. While many countries have taken steps to reduce plastic consumption, the region still lacks the institutional capacity to cope with the amount of plastic waste being generated. Reports indicate that by 2025, annual mismanaged plastic waste in Africa could be as high as 11.5 million tons. 
Photo: Plastic polluted coastal town
In Ghana, the problem is particularly acute. Ghana is industrializing rapidly, and the use of plastics is increasing, the vast majority of this plastic ends up in landfills or the ocean. At a local level, plastic waste is a serious problem in both urban and rural environments, harming both human and environmental health. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the capital city of Accra, where 150 people died in 2015 from flood caused by plastic waste clogging public drains.
Photo: Plastic pollution and public health in Ghana
Eazywaste Ghana brings plastic waste recycling into communities by setting up ground-up recycling centres to transform it into flakes. while incentivizing consumers and plastic pickers to adopt a circulatory mindset.
The proposed project promotes a ground-up model that brings plastic waste recycling into communities, while incentivizing consumers, and plastic producers to adopt a circulatory mindset. EazyWaste will set-up community recycling banks to collect plastic packaging within communities, and transform it into high-quality high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pellets and flakes for reuse as alternatives to virgin plastics for clients in the manufacturing sector. 
Photo: Flakes of plastics processed and packed in a bale bag
The recycling banks will be operated and managed by community youth. Existing informal waste pickers will also be incorporated into this new system of waste management. In addition to providing recycling infrastructure, the project will also aim to change the mindset of the community to encourage recycling. The Eazywaste model is proven to work in several communities in Accra. Eazywaste now seeks to expand its operations to additional communities in Ghana.
The Innovation
In Ghana, there are several plastic waste recycling operations producing HDPE and PET pellets, but their recycling centers are based outside of Accra and can be difficult for waste pickers to access. In addition, most only process one type of plastic or are informal, sometimes unsafe, operations. The EazyWaste system is innovative because it brings recycling directly into communities by creating community-level plastic waste processing centers where waste pickers can directly deposit plastic waste. We add value to the product by cleaning and processing the plastic in the community, so it can then be sold for a higher margin than raw plastic would be. In addition, the recycling banks employ both youth and marginalized people, teaching them valuable entrepreneurial skills in the process. While the focus of the initiative is on plastic recycling, its overall goal is to empower the community and to promote practices that protect both human and environmental health.
Social Impact: EazyWaste has created 47 jobs (25 part-time and full-time staff; 22 plastic waste pickers/collectors). Additionally, through using community centers and a digital education and advocacy drive, approximately 1,000 households have been reached to increase community awareness regarding this plastic waste recycling initiative. Youth are also engaged or employed by community recycling banks.
Environmental Impact: Approximately 160 tons of plastic package waste have been recovered and recycled. By adopting a circular economy approach, recycled plastic flakes serve as a raw material for plastic manufacturing companies. Due to their education and advocacy efforts, approximately 125 households in the communities they work in are engaged in segregating their household plastic from other waste and recycling this plastic waste. There are a total of two recycling banks that serve the Ga West municipality.
For the people
A strong recycling program has the ability to create jobs. This idea has been inspired by many factors including the need for job creation especially for youth. We believe that the youth can be leveraged in the waste management process in tandem with awareness creation for sustainable recycling communities. Recycling jobs represent a wide range of salaries. These jobs also span several industries and involve numerous skill sets, such as sorting materials and handcrafting artifacts.
Photo: A Community Worker Actively sorting plastics for recycling
For sustainable communities
Recycled materials are reprocessed and turned into a variety of new products. Recycled plastics are used in the production of toothbrushes, plastic construction timber, and carpets, to name a few. Recycling allows for greater innovation when it comes to the manufacturing of new products. Developing advanced recycling programs creates pathways for collected commodities to be sold in the marketplace. Comprehensive and efficient recycling programs offer more opportunities for the community to benefit financially, while improving the aesthetic appeal of their neighborhoods.
How our initiative influencing our field of work for the better
Photo: Local youth operating the Crusher Machine
Over 2.5 million tons of raw plastic is imported into Ghana annually, with over 70% resulting in waste. Our initiative is working to combat plastic waste pollution across Ghana by positively affecting the local environment in 3 ways: 1. Reducing plastic waste in the community by roughly 145,000 kg total or 43,500 kg annually. 2. Providing gainful employment for youth and teaching transferable skills. Our staff is incentivized to develop innovative means for gathering plastic waste across their communities by creating plastic collection sites. 3. Leading outreach and education events for over 1,000 direct beneficiaries/20,000 extended beneficiaries. We have organized a total of 8 training-of-trainers events, occurring quarterly, to spread awareness about the environmental and health dangers of plastic waste. We consider ourselves on the cutting-edge of change for the modern environment by teaching youth how to manage environmental waste, thus influencing Ghana's health and wealth.
The EazyWaste initiative is proud to share that in 2020 we adapted to the COVID environment and continued to win small-seed support from UNDP’s Accelerator Lab COVID-19 Innovation Challenge, a GIZ-funded grant through their COVID-19 Relief Programme: Empowering Entrepreneurs in Emerging Economies, and Orange Corners Innovation Fund. Finally, the initiative was featured in Startup Guide’s Accra issue. https://startupguide.com/shop/startup-guide-accra
There is tremendous potential in the capacity of our Zerma GSE 500/500 granulator to produce up to 4 tons of plastic pellets daily, as opposed to the current rate of 4 tons monthly. We require capital investment in logistical outreach equipment/infrastructure to bring in more waste. We plan to triple the garbage team staff size to accommodate uptake. Lastly, we seek to open an additional site out of the capital city of Accra, where more waste is available. We inspire significant community-wide confidence in our circular economy model. Our initiative directly addresses youth employment and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Our model is simple and sustainable. The community recycling banks only require initial start-up funding to purchase equipment and train community youth, after which the income generated from selling the in-house processed plastic pellets and flakes contributes substantially to the budget. Currently, 45% of the annual budget comes from plastic waste income, about 30% from grants, and 25% from personal investment, family, and friends. EazyWaste is currently working to apply for grants both in Ghana and around the world. The national demand for recycled plastic is projected to remain strong well into the future. To ensure long term financial stability, EazyWaste is planning to diversify its operations in order to process other recyclable materials, including cans. In addition, the machines used by Eazywaste are also manufactured locally and can be repaired locally, so technological breakdowns should not impact Eazywaste’s long term financial sustainability
The EazyWaste initiative has a strong potential to be scaled up in Ghana and to be replicated in other social and geographical settings. It has the capacity to create large-scale change wherever it is implemented because it is a ground-up model, requiring only simple locally made machinery, which financially incentivizes community participation, while also changing the mindset of the community to view plastic waste as a resource, rather than just trash. This model is highly scalable in Ghana because it is proven to be sustainable and straightforward to implement. There are already two recycling banks in operation in Accra, and EazyWaste is planning to expand to other communities . Each new recycling bank will be incorporated into the existing EazyWaste system, whereby plastic pellets and flakes are transported to the plastics company. The model will be replicable in any country where there is a demand for pelletized plastic.
Through a collaboration with YOU, EazyWaste will be able to develop its plastics recycling schemes. This will benefit from communities , individuals, local waste pickers and maginalised.
Additionally, this will prompt potential collaboration opportunities with the leading professionals and young social entrepreneurs around the world to develop and expand the current packaging waste recycling model in the region. EazyWaste capabilities that will contribute to this collaboration include existing community recycling plants and community involvement through hiring local personnel with technical expertise in waste management. Additionally, collaborations are helpful for improving plastic collection in markets where the regulatory framework for waste management is weak or inadequately enforced. EazyWaste has secured a permit from the local government to recycle the waste plastic it collects in Accra
EazyWaste processes four tons of plastic a month, resulting in 48 tons of recycled plastic per year. We also offer a 3-year history in environment and natural-resource sector solutions. Our senior-level environmental experts developed this formal recycling plant. Regarding market entry, we work with majority-market share companies, such as H&J Plastics and Miniplast Ltd. The first prototype comprises a core Zerma GSE 500/500 plastic granulator that produces plastic pellets. Our local market success is driven by: 1. Developing health/occupational hazard standard procedures 2. Leveraging political relationships with elders and local leaders 3. Establishing local staffing schemes and robust human resources teams 4. Promoting education and advocacy efforts Despite 2020’s economic effects.
Team
Founded in 2017., EazyWaste was established to provide solutions in Africa for Africa. The initiative was started by Ghanaian nationals with educational backgrounds from University of education -winneba, IPMC and no formal education offering local expertise. We are currently composed of 7 staff, and 3 active board members.
Ernest Nartey-Tetteh is the Chief Operations officer and co-founder of Eazywaste. A health services administrator and public health advocate, Ernest was inspired to found Eazywaste after realizing the threat plastic waste poses to human health, as well as to the environment. He is responsible for overseeing the safety standards, as well as training community youth. Additionally, Ernest has worked on projects funded by USAID, and Innovation for Poverty Action and is experienced in monitoring and evaluation, and project management.
Owusu Michael is the Recycling programs manager of Eazywaste. Michael is responsible for the financial planning and business strategy of Eazywaste. He is an educational professional with over three years’ experience in curriculum design and Administration, System Support, and data entry. Additionally, he is an experienced researcher with skills in collecting, cleaning and interpreting data that has worked with organizations such as the ILC Africa and Innovation for Poverty Action.
