IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jcltec/v5y2023i3p50-1011d1214058.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Prospects of Waste Incineration for Improved Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management in Ghana—A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Noah Yakah

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa P.O. Box 237, Ghana)

  • Mahrokh Samavati

    (Department of Energy Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Augustine Akuoko Kwarteng

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa P.O. Box 237, Ghana)

  • Andrew Martin

    (Department of Energy Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Anthony Simons

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa P.O. Box 237, Ghana)

Abstract

The per capita municipal solid waste (MSW) generation per day in Ghana is estimated to be 0.47 kg/person/day, which translates to over 14,000 tonnes of solid waste generation daily. The disposal and management of this amount of solid waste has been challenging worldwide, and in Ghana, this is evident with the creation of unsanitary dumping sites scattered across most communities in the country, especially urban communities. The indiscriminate disposal of solid waste in Ghana is known to cause flooding, the pollution of water bodies, and the spread of diseases. The purpose of this review is to highlight the prospects of waste incineration with energy recovery as a waste-to-energy (WtE) technology which has contributed immensely to the disposal and management of MSW in nations worldwide (especially developed ones). The review indicates that waste incineration with energy recovery is a matured waste-to-energy technology in developed nations, and there are currently about 492 waste incineration plants in operation in the EU, over 77 in operation in about 25 states in the USA, and about 1900 in operation in Japan. Waste incineration with energy recovery is also gradually gaining prominence in developing nations like China, Brazil, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The adoption of waste incineration with energy technology can reduce Ghana’s overdependence on fossil fuels as primary sources of energy. It is, however, recommended that a techno-economic assessment of proposed waste incineration facilities is performed considering the MSW generated in Ghana. Additionally, it is also recommended that the possibility of incorporating the use of artificial intelligence technology into the management of MSW in Ghana be investigated.

Suggested Citation

  • Noah Yakah & Mahrokh Samavati & Augustine Akuoko Kwarteng & Andrew Martin & Anthony Simons, 2023. "Prospects of Waste Incineration for Improved Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management in Ghana—A Review," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:5:y:2023:i:3:p:50-1011:d:1214058
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/5/3/50/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/5/3/50/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chengliang Zhang & Tong Xu & Hualiang Feng & Shaohua Chen, 2019. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Landfills: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Michael Acheampong & Qiuyan Yu & Funda Cansu Ertem & Lucy Deba Enomah Ebude & Shakhawat Tanim & Michael Eduful & Mehrdad Vaziri & Erick Ananga, 2019. "Is Ghana Ready to Attain Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 7?—A Comprehensive Assessment of Its Renewable Energy Potential and Pitfalls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-40, January.
    3. Navarro Ferronato & Vincenzo Torretta, 2019. "Waste Mismanagement in Developing Countries: A Review of Global Issues," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-28, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Benett Siyabonga Madonsela & Khomotso Semenya & Karabo Shale, 2024. "A Review of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Their Application in Sustainable Solid Waste Management," World, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-21, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yousif Mohammed Elmosaad & Ahmed M. Al Rajeh & Maria Blesilda B. Llaguno & Sami Saad Alqaimi & Ali Mohammed Alsalman & Ali Yousif Alkishi & Hassan Hussain & Mohammed Ahmed Alhoudaib & Othman Saad Alna, 2023. "Self-Reported Household Waste Recycling and Segregation Practices among Families in Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Jasmina Ćetković & Slobodan Lakić & Angelina Živković & Miloš Žarković & Radoje Vujadinović, 2021. "Economic Analysis of Measures for GHG Emission Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Leslier Valenzuela-Fernández & Manuel Escobar-Farfán, 2022. "Zero-Waste Management and Sustainable Consumption: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Mapping Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Prince Obinna Njoku & Stuart Piketh & Rachel Makungo & Joshua Nosa Edokpayi, 2023. "Monitoring of Subsurface Emissions and the Influence of Meteorological Factors on Landfill Gas Emissions: A Case Study of a South African Landfill," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-24, March.
    5. Asif Iqbal & Abdullah Yasar & Abdul-Sattar Nizami & Rafia Haider & Faiza Sharif & Imran Ali Sultan & Amtul Bari Tabinda & Aman Anwer Kedwaii & Muhammad Murtaza Chaudhary, 2022. "Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Haulage Modeling Design for Lahore, Pakistan: Transition toward Sustainability and Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-39, December.
    6. Giovanni Vinti & Valerie Bauza & Thomas Clasen & Kate Medlicott & Terry Tudor & Christian Zurbrügg & Mentore Vaccari, 2021. "Municipal Solid Waste Management and Adverse Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-26, April.
    7. Jatau Ramond Yohanna, 2023. "Effluent Pollution in Custodial Centres and its Environs in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(2), pages 1341-1352, February.
    8. Victor Fredrick & Vandu Umaru Lazarus & Ishaku Yahaya & Ibrahim Hyedma Bwala & Ajanson, Samuel Sule & Buhari Isa Uba, 2023. "Impact of Public Solid Waste Disposal Dump Sites: A Threat to Residence of Yelwa Tsakani, Bauchi," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(2), pages 507-522, February.
    9. Vladimír Frišták & Diana Bošanská & Vladimír Turčan & Martin Pipíška & Christoph Pfeifer & Gerhard Soja, 2022. "Relevance of Pyrolysis Products Derived from Sewage Sludge for Soil Applications," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Anna Mazzi & Michela Sciarrone & Roberto Raga, 2022. "Environmental Performance of Semi-Aerobic Landfill by Means of Life Cycle Assessment Modeling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-17, August.
    11. Yijia Wang & Senwei Huang & Jia Liu, 2023. "Research on the Rural Environmental Governance and Interaction Effects of Farmers under the Perspective of Circular Economy—Evidence from Three Provinces of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-20, September.
    12. Sabah Mariyam & Logan Cochrane & Shifa Zuhara & Gordon McKay, 2022. "Waste Management in Qatar: A Systematic Literature Review and Recommendations for System Strengthening," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-23, July.
    13. Mohd Faiz Ibrahim & Rozita Hod & Haidar Rizal Toha & Azmawati Mohammed Nawi & Idayu Badilla Idris & Hanizah Mohd Yusoff & Mazrura Sahani, 2021. "The Impacts of Illegal Toxic Waste Dumping on Children’s Health: A Review and Case Study from Pasir Gudang, Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, February.
    14. Marco Bardus & May A. Massoud, 2022. "Predicting the Intention to Sort Waste at Home in Rural Communities in Lebanon: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    15. Sabbir Ahmed & Sameera Mubarak & Jia Tina Du & Santoso Wibowo, 2022. "Forecasting the Status of Municipal Waste in Smart Bins Using Deep Learning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-15, December.
    16. Hang Yin & Yixiong Huang & Kuiming Wang, 2021. "How Do Environmental Concerns and Governance Performance Affect Public Environmental Participation: A Case Study of Waste Sorting in Urban China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, September.
    17. Leticia Sarmento dos Muchangos, 2022. "Mapping the Circular Economy Concept and the Global South," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    18. Saowanee Wijitkosum, 2023. "Repurposing Disposable Bamboo Chopsticks Waste as Biochar for Agronomical Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.
    19. Emily Ying Yang Chan & Tiffany Sze Tung Sham & Tayyab Salim Shahzada & Caroline Dubois & Zhe Huang & Sida Liu & Kevin K.C. Hung & Shelly L.A. Tse & Kin On Kwok & Pui-Hong Chung & Ryoma Kayano & Rajib , 2020. "Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-28, August.
    20. Maciej Górka & Yaroslav Bezyk & Izabela Sówka, 2021. "Assessment of GHG Interactions in the Vicinity of the Municipal Waste Landfill Site—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-19, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:5:y:2023:i:3:p:50-1011:d:1214058. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.