Alternatives for Financing Waste Management: Implications for Ghana’s Growing Electronic and Electrical Equipment Waste

Abstract

The waste of electrical and electronic equipment pose an environmental and human health challenge for some developing countries, including Ghana. Despite such challenges, it contributes to job creation and income generation if properly collected and processed. This type of waste may contain precious minerals including gold and mercury. However, the processing of such waste is dominated by the informal sector. Due to the availability of finance, they resort to unhealthy such as burning and crushing as a means of processing this waste, thereby, exposing themselves and the environment to poisonous metals and substances. To curtail the problems created by this waste, the government proposed the establishment of a fund to enable the country secure the needed capital to deal with this waste problem. The paper uses documentary review to assess the proposed government approach to funding of this waste. It proposes an alternative model of financing of this waste. It recommends, among other things, the need to promote the sector as a business venture and encourage the participation of private, public, foreign and domestic investment. The said investment is expected to promote the acquisition of the needed technology to manage e-waste.