Plastic recycling is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to combat the plastic crisis.
Both rural and urban communities are continuously battling plastic waste, which is not only an ongoing challenge but is gradually becoming a national menace.
Ghana produces over a million metric tons of plastic waste annually, yet only a meager two to five percent of this is collected and recycled.
This issue has escalated into a national crisis, particularly in the Ashanti Region, where Kumasi—the second-largest city in Ghana—finds itself at the center of the problem.
One company actively addressing this issue is the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies.
Not only is it the largest facility of its kind in Ghana, but also in Africa.
Sitting on 180 acres of land in Adagya, Kumasi, the plant has the capacity to process approximately 2,400 tons of various waste daily.
With various kinds of modern technologies, KCARP receives, treats, and recovers valuable materials from waste, including compost, plastics, metals, and paper, among other products.
The company does a lot, if we want to talk about all, it may take us ‘months’, so let’s focus on plastics for now.
I had the opportunity to visit the company and tour the facility with its Communications Manager, Mr. Eugene Amo-Asamoah.
Waste is primarily transported to the plant by trucks and tricycles, locally known as “Aboboyaa,” and is usually delivered in mixed form at the receiving area before being sorted.
Plastics are meticulously separated into various types, such as PET, PVC, and HDPE, by well-trained workers.
Some are processed through a palletizing process, while others are baled and sent to other processing companies, both locally and internationally.
KCARP has been a game-changer in the region, striving to transform the narrative surrounding plastic waste.
Before the establishment of this company, the Ashanti Region faced a severe waste crisis.
However, over the past few years, significant progress has been made.
Approximately 400 tons of plastic waste are received at the plant, constituting between 16% and 20% of the total waste processed at the facility.
This reflects the substantial investments made by the company to alleviate the situation.
Research indicates that, the quantities of plastic waste will rise exponentially by 2050, not just in the world but Ghana too.
Data suggests that global solid waste generation could increase from the current 17 billion tons to 27 billion tons annually by that year.
Ad-hoc landfill and dumpsite practices, driven by urbanization and land scarcity, have made waste treatment and disposal challenging issues in Ghana.
Current practices pose a major threat to the health of both present and future generations.
KCARP views this as a critical issue that must be addressed.
Since its inception, the company has received considerable commendation from various institutions and individuals, both locally and internationally.
Former Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, under whose administration the facility was commissioned, commended the Jospong Group of Companies for establishing such an important organization aimed at tackling municipal and solid waste.
Recently, members of Ghana’s Parliament Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources expressed their admiration for the company’s operations during a visit in April 2025.
KCARP has plans for expansion throughout the Ashanti Region and beyond.
Without a doubt, KCARP is rewriting the story of waste management in Ghana and deserves recognition and support.
The government should assist this vital company through electricity subsidies, as they are not only addressing an impending crisis but also creating employment opportunities for the youth.
If any company deserves applause and support, it is KCARP.
KCARP: Better Environment…
