Africa’s waste management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, has advocated for an integrated approach to waste management that considers the interests of community members, women, and vulnerable groups.
Mr. James Deku, a Communications Officer of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, made this call during the 29th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
He was speaking on the topic “Community-Driven and Gender-Inclusive Approaches to Waste Management for Climate Action.”
He emphasized that the waste sector is a significant contributor to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas driving climate change. Therefore, it is essential to manage waste in a way that includes all stakeholders.
“Zoomlion’s waste management model is designed and operated in a manner that considers the interests of all stakeholders. Through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, local authorities engage community members in cleaning their environment using simple technologies,” he explained.
He also highlighted the critical role women play in waste management in Ghana, starting at the household level. “Women are at the forefront of waste management in Ghana, from domestic waste management to cleaning principal streets. This is evident in the significant number of women employed in the sector, as well as unskilled youth who are provided with the expertise needed to lead waste management efforts in their communities, thereby creating jobs for the vulnerable and unskilled,” he added.
Mr. Deku further noted that Zoomlion’s advanced capacity in waste treatment and recycling transforms waste into a resource, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste.
Dr. Sahar Sohail, an environmental scientist and member of the Pakistan delegation to COP 29, praised Zoomlion’s community-driven and gender-inclusive approach to waste management as a best practice worth emulating.
She remarked, “The lessons learned from Zoomlion Ghana Limited, part of the Jospong Group of Companies, provide valuable opportunities for collaboration to address waste management challenges globally.”
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC. It brings together world leaders and parties to the Paris Agreement to address climate change challenges.