Utilizing indigenous knowledge and innovation to achieve zero waste.

The production of municipal solid garbage has increased globally. The amount of municipal solid trash generated is expected to increase from 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, according to predictions. The predicted global direct cost of waste management in 2020 was USD 252 billion. When the hidden costs of pollution, negative health consequences, and climate change resulting from improper waste disposal techniques are taken into account, the total global costs of waste (mis)management amounted to USD 361 billion.

The International Day of Zero Waste serves as a reminder of the need to promote sustainable patterns of production and consumption as well as the necessity of bolstering waste management internationally. The goals of the zero waste idea are to reduce trash production, increase recycling, and support a circular economy that makes effective use of resources. Under the theme “Harnessing Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge for Zero Waste,” UNDP Ghana is commemorating this day.

Indigenous cultures all across the world have long used tried-and-true techniques that see garbage as goods in transition, resources that should be repurposed and given new life. By recycling and repurposing resources, indigenous knowledge systems in Ghana have significantly improved waste management.

Innovative traditional methods, such as composting organic food waste and repurposing abandoned materials to make things like curtain ropes and bricks from recycled plastic, have long allowed local communities to manage the waste successfully.

To further reduce waste, some local communities have also incorporated livestock into cropping systems as part of regenerative agricultural methods. These kinds of practices provide us with important insights about how to fight waste. A few initiatives need to be performed in Ghana to effectively leverage innovation and indigenous knowledge towards zero waste.

Encourage research and development

First and foremost, funding research is necessary to investigate the integration of indigenous knowledge with contemporary waste management practices. Research might reveal fresh perspectives and creative fixes for accomplishing zero-waste goals. For example, studies might encourage creative food packaging techniques using locally obtained biodegradable materials and also emphasize composting as a sustainable means of handling organic waste. Through the use of Behavioural Insights (BI) and other cutting-edge research techniques, the UNDP Ghana Accelerator Lab trains communities to prioritize local knowledge and grassroots innovations, which are essential to the circular economy. This approach aims to better understand waste-disposing behaviors and strengthen Ghana’s waste management ecosystem.

To help city authorities recognize the concrete contributions of grassroots solutions to a cleaner, more sustainable, and egalitarian city, the Accelerator Lab has outlined, recorded, and linked these solutions to relevant stakeholders.

Innovative finance to assist small-scale innovators.

The implementation of creative zero-waste solutions by grassroots innovators frequently needs funding. Technical help, grants, and subsidies are a few possible forms of financing. To put their ideas into action, innovators could also form partnerships with the public and private sectors or form joint enterprises. Through its Waste Recovery Platform, UNDP Ghana has given local innovators financial and technical support to help them tackle the nation’s waste management problem.

The government might also foster innovation by setting up waste management-focused hubs and incubators, which would give local inventors a place to meet, exchange ideas, and produce original solutions.

Create Collaborative Platforms: To harness innovation and indigenous knowledge for zero waste, collaboration and knowledge exchange are critical. Platforms comprising a variety of stakeholders, including the public sector, private industry, academia, civil society organizations, informal waste collectors, and local communities, can promote information sharing, the formation of partnerships, and the cooperative development of zero waste solutions. The Ghana National Plastics Action Partnership (NPAP) and the UNDP’s Waste Recovery platform provide venues for gathering various stakeholders to work together and take meaningful action towards reaching zero waste.

By embracing these steps, we can work towards a future where waste is minimised, resources are used efficiently, and sustainable development is realised for all, including advancing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 12. By Catherine Adodoadji-Dogbe, Programme Analyst, and Fatima Farouta, Head of Solutions Mapping, UNDP Ghana, on International Day of Zero Waste. Recognizing the significant contributions of indigenous knowledge systems in waste management, concerted efforts must be made to support research and development, providing creative financing mechanisms for grassroots innovators.