Exploring waste activation and mineralization for environmental and economic sustainability in Ghana

Abstract

The inefficiency of waste management systems in Ghana, characterized by inadequate infrastructure and unsustainable practices such as open dumping and landfilling, resulted in significant environmental, social, and economic challenges. This narrative review evaluates waste activation (pyrolysis) and CO₂ mineralization as solutions to repurpose Ghana's 12,710 tons/day of waste, with organic matter constituting 53.91% of municipal solid waste, offering innovative solutions to these challenges. Drawing on global best practices and contextualizing them within Ghana's socio-economic and environmental landscape, the study examined the applicability, benefits, and implementation strategies of these advanced technologies. Key findings revealed that waste activation and mineralization mitigated pollution, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, enhanced public health, generated renewable energy and supported industrial growth. Studies show pyrolysis of low-density polyethylene sachets produces fuel with approximately 10% lower global warming potential than conventional fossil fuels, while fly ash use in cement decreased CO₂ emissions by 15 million tons. The study also identified gaps in Ghana's waste management policies and provided actionable recommendations for integrating these technologies into the national framework. Notwithstanding growing academic attention to sustainable waste management, the specific roles of waste activation and CO₂ mineralization remain underexplored within the Ghanaian context. Existing policies and research continue to emphasize conventional approaches such as landfilling and incineration, offering limited empirical synthesis that aligns these advanced technologies with Ghana’s unique waste profile, institutional realities, and socio-environmental conditions. This review bridges this critical gap by critically examining the feasibility, benefits, and implementation strategies of waste activation and mineralization in Ghana, thereby contributing to innovative and contextually relevant waste management solutions. This research contributed to advancing sustainable waste management as a multidimensional framework, bridging environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Through linking global practices with local realities, the study offered theoretical insights and practical strategies for developing countries. Its novelty lies in its comprehensive examination of waste activation and mineralization within the Ghanaian context, introducing innovative pathways for waste-to-resource conversion and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global climate objectives. • Waste activation and mineralization technologies show strong potential for sustainable resource recovery in Ghana. • Integration of waste-to-resource solutions aligns with achieving SDGs and global climate targets. • Economic benefits include job creation and cost-effective waste management. • Advanced technologies address gaps in Ghana’s waste management policies. • Novel approaches outperform traditional landfilling and incineration methods in sustainability.