Incentive Based Collection of E-Waste in Ghana

In countries like Ghana, approaches to improve e-waste management depend on the involvement of the informal sector. In this context the Öko-Institut has developed and tested an incentive-based approach. It aims to encourage informal collectors and recyclers to abandon highly polluting practices such as the open burning of cables, but continue to engage in collection. During the 10-month field trial in Agbogbloshie, Ghana, informal collectors were able to deliver old unburned cables to a transfer centre and received compensation payments that exceeded the actual material value of the cables.

The test was carried out in close cooperation with local organisations and was embedded in the GIZ project "Environmentally sound disposal and recycling of electronic waste in Ghana". This report presents the approach and results of the field test in detail and derives recommendations for further development.