The CASH IT! Tema West Recycling is a state of the art plastic waste reprocessing plant established in Accra as part of the the ASASE Foundation project “Closing the Loop” of Plastic Packaging in Ghana. The project is currently funded by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) and the European Union (EU). This cutting-edge facility has a capacity of 2000 tonnes per year, deploying a groundbreaking technology in the quest to end plastic pollution in Ghana.
The operations of CASH IT! Tema West Recycling is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency in Ghana. This underscores the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to adhering to stringent environmental policies.
In this blog post, we delve into the various stages of this innovative wastewater treatment process, highlighting its success in overcoming challenges and paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.
1. Innovative Processing Lines
At CASH IT! Recycling are three operational lines dedicated to transforming plastic waste into valuable resources. These include the LDPE crushing and washing line, the HDPE/PP crushing and washing line, and the recycling line. To ensure the production of top-notch crushed material, the washing lines rely on a steady water flow.
2. Wastewater Challenges
Tema West Municipality like many peri-urban communities in Ghana lack proper wastewater drainage systems. Recognizing the need for wastewater management and in the absence of proper sewage drainage systems, CASH IT! took a bold step. A 72.6 cubic meter 3-stage concrete tank, capable of holding 73,000 litres of process water, was constructed and mechanized for wastewater recirculation. This recirculation system came into operation on June 5, 2022. However, challenges emerged after three weeks of recirculating process water. Challenges such as pathogenic contamination, plastic contamination leading to water and soil pollution, high levels of suspended solids affecting washing quality, offensive odors from anaerobic digestion, and the high cost of wastewater evacuation became apparent and alarming.
3. Innovative Solution: Wastewater Treatment Intervention
To mitigate these challenges while operating the recirculating system sustainably and safely, strategic intervention was needed. The solution? Wastewater Treatment Plant. The objectives guiding this transformative intervention included:
a. Ease of Engineering: Utilizing simple, appropriate technology to minimize project investment and operating costs.
b. Ease of Operating: Ensuring the system does not require high-level technicians for management and operation.
c. Ease of Maintenance: Implementing a system that is easy to maintain, fostering long-term sustainability.
d. Energy Saving Technology: Incorporating technology that prioritizes energy efficiency.
4. Designing the Treatment Process
The journey to a sustainable solution commenced with a series of preliminary tests and simulations on wastewater. These aimed to determine both qualitative and quantitative physiochemical properties, as well as identifying the most applicable chemical treatment process. This was followed by the installation of a well thought through mechanical and chemical process to effectively carry out the treatment. The success of the treatment process was determined by performing final tests on the wastewater which gave desirable results in accordance with the guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Ghana.
Process flow scheme for wastewater treatment
5. Conclusion and Recommendations
The success of our wastewater treatment was gauged by overcoming challenges and aligning with environmental protection standards. We have achieved significant milestones after implementing the wastewater treatment plant: improvement health and safety of the workforce, high micro plastic residue recovery, effective recirculation and improved water conservation. The processing line now produces superior recycling output as a result of enhanced washing quality. High cost of wastewater evacuation is now reduced to the barest minimum due to effective recirculation of treated wastewater
The treated wastewater meets Environmental Protection Agency discharge limits, ensuring safety for our workforce and the environment. Aligned with the ASASE Foundation’s environmental policy, this intervention promotes water conservation, worker health & safety, and minimizes micro plastic pollution. As plastic waste management facility in Ghana and being part of such facilities in the Global South at large, we will be pleased to share in further technical details the ins and outs of this important state of the art operational realization within the waste management industry.
Contact us on (+233) 0209048511 or email us at asasefoundation@gmail.com.
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