This document outlines a proposed multi-phase program to address e-waste issues in Agbogbloshie, Ghana. The program aims to:
1) Conduct a community needs assessment and establish educational programs on e-waste hazards.
2) Implement recycling programs including a cryogenic grinding facility and phytoextraction to remove toxins from soil and water.
3) Engage in policy advocacy work to reduce e-waste imports and protect vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
4) Conduct evaluations and disseminate findings to stakeholders in Ghana and other affected countries.
2. This is Afram
Afram is an eight year old
boy who was burned
while playing near a fire left by
e-waste recyclers
We, at the Ghanaian Health
Advocacy Network of Accra,
want to work with this
community to help change
how e-waste is managed
within Agbogbloshie
3. Agbogbloshie Dump Site
One of the most widely known e-waste sites in the
world
Designated as a scrap metal site by top e-waste
producing countries across the world
Located in the capital city of Accra
6,000 men, women, and children live and work in the
landfill
4. Target Population
Pregnant Women
Premature birth of child
Cognitive and behavioral
impairments in the child
Congenital malformations in
the child
Children
Skip school to work in
dump sites collecting scrap
metal to sell at the market and
make a profit
High risk of injury due to lack
of caution and exposure to
toxic substances
Often play together in
the dump site
5. Program Goals
Reduce amount of e-waste exported to Ghana
Removal of existing e-waste to reduce the harmful impact of the
dump site on women and children's health
Educate vulnerable populations and the greater community on the
dangers of the dump site
7. Community Needs Assessment
Seeking permission to ensure cultural beliefs
or longstanding traditions are not violated
Asking local leaders for permission and opinions on proposed project
Survey community to determine if they are content with project
Ask community leaders to be a liaison between GHANA and community to
ensure clear communication
Focus groups
Establish baseline of community knowledge of e-waste
Assess level of misinformation about e-waste sources
See what issues are important to the community
9. Education
Proper waste disposal
Health effects of hazardous waste
Sports activities with education for
children
E-Waste Supply
Center for scrap exchange
Other methods for recycling metal
Cryogenic mills
Soil and Water Purification
Phytoextraction
Seed dispersal program
Interventions
10. Education Program
Agbogbloshie community
Provide free meal for entire families
as incentive to attend education programs in
existing training facility
Programs to educate about proper waste
disposal and health effects
Youth Education Programs
Provide food and sports activities on existing
football pitch
Child focus material on hazards of contact with
e-waste and potential for injury
11. Components of Educational Program
Hazardous Waste
Environmental Effects
• Effects on:
• Soil
• Air
• Water
• Emphasize that
hazardous
materials are not
easy to extract from
environment
Hazardous Waste
Health Effects
• Impacts of pollution
on humans
•Focus on impacts
on children and
pregnant women
• Impacts on landfill
workers
• Emphasize what to
do if exposed to
hazardous toxin
Youth-
Based Component
• Blended sports and
educational e-waste
sessions
• Show children what
hazards to avoid in the
environment
• Convey potential harmful
impacts of e-waste to the
environment and
themselves
• Emphasize the importance
of coming to school
12. Components of Educational Program
cont.
Actions to be taken by
Community Members
• Take special precautions to
prevent hazardous pollutant
exposure
• Plant seeds that will help
extract pollutants from soil
• Stop burning e-waste and
utilize community recycling
program
• Utilize word of mouth
• Encourage kids to attend
school as much as possible
Surveys
• Gage comprehension
• Demographics may be
collected
Awareness
of Additional Resources
• Developed based on
focus group results
•Brochures,
pamphlets, etc.
• Community
leaders acting as
liaisons can
answer questions
• Awareness of reliable
sources
13. Addressing Public Misinformation
Problem: Basel Convention Monitoring Network is branding itself as a
reputable source and released a report saying the US state of Vermont is
the source of 95% of e-waste. In addition, the public views this NGO as
official reports from the Basel Convention. Local population is ignoring
other statistics and demanding reparation.
As part of Education program, we will address where the e-waste is
coming from (USA, Brazil, Germany, Japan, China) as well as domestic e-
waste
15. Building Recycling Centers
Dedicate funds to open two recycling
centers where residents see fit
Build on to existing recycling center
Pure Earth: NGO that has a fully functioning recycling
center with wire stripping capabilities
Add pilot program to try cryogenic grinding
16. Cryogenic Mills
Machine that freezes metals
and other materials using liquid
nitrogen
Frozen metals are then grinded
mechanically into nanoparticles
Resulting powder can be easily
reused and resold
17. Waste
Exchange
Program
Workers can gather electronics found at the dumpsite
to bring to the recycling centers to be properly
disposed of
Gather
Workers will pay small fee per item.
•To be negotiated with community leadersPay
Centers will help them recover useful scrap metal to
be sold in the marketHelp
Metal powder will be resold to companies that can
utilize itBe
18. Phytoextraction
The removal of heavy metals from
the soil matrix by plant uptake
Benefits:
Cost effective
Can treat multiple heavy metals
simultaneously
No need for excavation of
contaminated soil
Follow-up processing of biomass
available
Vegetation can help prevent erosion
and the further spread of contaminated
material
20. Policy Advocacy
Reduce Amount of E-
Waste being Exported to
Ghana
• Enforcing the premises
of the Basel Convention
• Advocate for Port
Authority to monitor and
collect data about
source of e-waste
Removing Waste and
Reducing Impacts of E-
Waste Landfills
• Pushing for the National
Health Insurance
Scheme (NHIS) to
conduct prenatal
monitoring for toxins in
Agbogbloshie
Educate Children on the
Dangers of E-Waste
Landfills
• Push for Ministry of
Education to provide
free lunch for students
in schools near Old
Fadama
• Advocate to teach
children in schools
about how to properly
dispose of e-waste
22. Evaluation
Surveys from
community
leaders
Percentage of e-
waste recycled in
plant now vs.
before
Comparison of
pollution in air
and soil every 6
months
Review health
disease incidence
related to e-waste
pollution
Monitor doctor
visits and
emergency room
visits
School attendance
23. Dissemination
of Findings
Comparison of results published online for easy
access annually
Use data from previous years in educational
program to show effectiveness
Share information with key partners and other e-
waste infiltrated countries
25. Timeline
Year Year Year Year Year
Establish
partnerships
Conduct needs
assessment
Build community
trust
Evaluation and
Monitoring
Begin e-waste
education
program
Begin
construction of
cryogenic mill
Training of recycle
center workers
Dissemination of
findings
Opening of
cryogenic mill
Begin construction
of second cryogenic
mill
Advocate to
government leaders
Opening of
second cryogenic
mill
Advocate to
broader
community
National health insurance scheme
United nations environment programma
Accra metropolitan assembly
Ghana- Ghanaian Health Advocacy Network of Accra
Pure earth- sets up recycling centers in Agbogbloshie
Ministry of education for free lunches in school and children education programs
Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority
Time-consuming: takes time to see results and extract/remove dangerous metals and pollutants
Cultural barriers: population may not think that the hazardous chemicals are making a significant impact on health and may not be willing to go through education process
Literacy: not everyone may be able to read so we may have to find alternative methods to survey community members
Low SES: adults may not be able to take time to come to educational program if they have several other responsibilities
Rely on word of mouth and neighborhood canvassing to ensure we reach those who cannot come to us
Survey results skewed by unintentional bias or forgetfulness
Employ random sampling and other technique to limit bias to best of ability
