Abstract:
Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is unable to dispose off all the 2500 tonnes of
solid waste generated daily in Accra Metropolis. AMA is also confronted with the problem of
finding appropriate locations and dispose all the daily generated solid waste in Accra.
Brainstorming to find solutions to the problems, AMA has identified solid waste recycling by
some enterprises as one of the ways by which solid waste management could be addressed.
This study therefore sought to assess solid waste recycling as a means of improving
environmental quality in Accra Metropolitan Area. Survey research design was employed for
the study and multi-stage sampling method was used to obtain 108 respondents and 3 keys
informants who were purposively selected. Questionnaires, interview schedule and
observation checklist were the instruments used to collect the data. The data were analysed
using SPSS version 18, while content analysis was used for the key informant interviews. The
results established that despite the benefits such as employment, production of household
utensils, revenue generation and aesthetic environment that solid waste recycling provides in
the study area, only 5 percent of the daily generated solid waste was recycled. It was further
revealed that the low rate of recycling was due to few enterprises involved in solid waste
recycling and most households not involved in this activity. It is recommended that the central
and local governments implement the following measures: getting actively involved in solid
waste recycling, encouraging households to participate actively through public education and
motivation in order to reduce solid waste significantly in the Area Metropolitan Area.
