Fact Check: "Accra can only process 30 tonnes of the 100 tonnes of daily textile waste."
What We Know
The claim that Accra can only process 30 tonnes of the 100 tonnes of daily textile waste is supported by several reports. According to the head of Accra's waste management department, Solomon Noi, approximately 100 tonnes of garments leave the Kantamanto market daily as waste, but the city is only able to collect and process around 30 tonnes of this waste (Unearthed, The Guardian). This situation has led to significant environmental issues, as the remaining 70 tonnes end up in various locations, including waste dumps, drains, and wetlands (The Guardian, Borgen Project).
Additionally, it is noted that about 40% of the clothing in each bale imported to Ghana is deemed unusable, which exacerbates the waste problem (The Guardian). The rapid influx of textile waste has overwhelmed local waste management systems, leading to a crisis in Accra's ability to handle the sheer volume of discarded clothing (MRW).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust, with multiple credible sources corroborating the figures provided by Solomon Noi. The reports from Unearthed and The Guardian are particularly noteworthy as they detail the environmental impact of textile waste in Accra, including the clogging of waterways and the creation of illegal dump sites in protected wetlands (Unearthed, The Guardian).
However, it is important to consider the context of these figures. While the claim accurately reflects the current processing capacity of Accra, it does not account for the broader waste management challenges faced by the city, which include rapid urbanization and inadequate infrastructure (Borgen Project, ABC News). Furthermore, some sources suggest that the overall capacity for waste management in Accra could be higher, with estimates indicating that the city could potentially process up to 2,000 metric tonnes of waste per day if properly managed (ABC News).
The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they include reputable news organizations and investigative reports. However, there may be some bias in how the information is presented, particularly regarding the urgency of the environmental crisis, which could influence public perception.
Conclusion
Verdict: Partially True
The claim that Accra can only process 30 tonnes of the 100 tonnes of daily textile waste is partially true. While it accurately reflects the current processing limitations reported by local authorities, it does not fully encompass the broader context of waste management challenges in Accra. The figures are substantiated by credible sources, but the situation is more complex than the claim suggests, as it overlooks potential improvements in waste processing capacity and the systemic issues contributing to the textile waste crisis.
Sources
- UK brands found in 'fast fashion graveyard' in African ...
- Discarded clothes from UK brands dumped in protected ...
- The Impact of Textile Waste in Ghana
- 'It's like a death pit': how Ghana became fast fashion's ...
- Brands back textiles EPR as waste found in African ...
- Ghana says reports of a "tsunami of textile waste" is ...
- Dead white man's clothes: How fast fashion is turning parts ...
- Rags not riches: Ghana drowns in Western castoffs
