The dilemmas of plastic wastes in a developing economy: Proposals for a sustainable management approach for Ghana

Plastics have been used extensively in both food and water packaging because of their inherent properties such as low bulk densities and inertness that make them convenient carrier materials and low risk contaminants. Plastic bottles and sachets used to package iced water that is sold to people in transit points and in moving vehicles have become widespread in the sub-region. However, the packaging revolution has not been correspondingly backed by appropriate plastic waste management policy, which has left many cities in sub-Sahara Africa littered with plastic wastes; thus, creating disgusting visual nuisances and other public health problems. The paper discusses the experiences, challenges and prospects of plastic waste management schemes in Ghana and proposes a new model of fractional levy and pollutertax system to address this environmental eye sore. It is concluded that the current rate of environmental deterioration is likely to persist unless a long term remedial such as the polluter taxation system is carefully worked into plastic wastes management schemes in the region

Trace elements contamination of soils around gold mine tailings dams at Obuasi, Ghana

This study investigated the issue of tailings dams as a potential source of trace elements contamination in soils at the Obuasi gold mine in Ghana. Soil samples taken from depths of up to 12 cm and within a radius of 400 m from the tailings dams (active and recommissioned), were analysed for As, Cu, Pb and Zn using atomic absorption spectrometry. Average concentrations of As, Cu, Pb and Zn in soils around the active tailings dams were respectively 581±130, 39.64 ± 3.02, 24.22 ± 2.62 and 72.64 ± 8.01 mg/kg. Soils in the vicinity of the decommissioned tailings dam registered increased values - 1711 ± 172, 71.44 ± 5.27, 38.67 ± 3.59 and 168.1 ± 36.2 mg/kg for As, Cu, Pb and Zn respectively. Both types of tailings dams impacted adjoining soils with greater concentrations of the trace elements when compared to undisturbed control soils. Arsenic was above the Netherlands intervention value of 55 mg/kg dry weight, even in control soils. The following trend of accumulation was observed in the soils: As>Zn>Cu>Pb. Improved tailings management strategies, among other factors, might have influenced the reduced level of trace elements contamination at the active tailings dams’ site