Determinants of an Effective Solid Wastes Collection at the Workplace: the Experience of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Industrial Research, Accra, Ghana

Abstract

The inefficient collection of solid wastes is a global phenomenon that has received attention in recent years for the ever-increasing annual waste generation records. However, indicators to the effective application of the amassing routs are missing. Hence, the generally accepted source-sorting model was explored to identify the determinants that will enhance source separation of wastes at the workplace. This paper presents a foremost report on the indicators to an effective operation of solid wastes source segregation. A quantitatively examined data was collected in sixty-six working days during a monitoring and evaluation process of twenty sets of twin-dustbins that were located at the study area. The generated solid wastes were commonly sorted (65%) in comparison with the mixed collection. Most of the wastes were separated on the third month (80%) of education compared to the first (54%) and second months (61%). Wednesday displayed the working day with the utmost sorted wastes (73%) compared to the other days. All dustbins recorded impressive sorting at the different locations in the Institute. A little over one thousand Ghana cedis savings was made in the first year. Tested null hypothesis showed that, duration and timing of continuous education were significant determinants of the efficient source segregation, relative to the dustbin locations. Therefore, the daily education of waste generators on how to separate wastes at source and the economic benefits will enhance source separation irrespective of the location.

Perceptions of workers on the benefits of institutional source sorting: A case of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR), Accra, Ghana

“…A study of staff preferences towards the mode of waste collection at the work place showed a significant interest of workers to source separate their wastes for enhanced recycling activities (Antwi et al, 2019). The implementation of literature and survey findings by the provision of adequate twin-dustbin setups with different colour codes for the source separation of solid wastes at the CSIR-IIR, demonstrated a 65% source segregation of generated wastes (Antwi et al, 2020). This estimates the potential benefits that will be achieved on a scaled-up institutional source sorting process.…”