THE MANAGING Director (MD) of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant Limited (ACARP), Rev. Dr. Richard Amponsah has stated that from the beginning of February 2016, human excreta (liquid waste) will no longer be dumped into the ocean, but would be turned into potable drinking water for Ghanaians.
Dr. Amponsah said next year, the company will begin full operation of processing all liquid waste from Ga West Municipality, Accra Metropolis and other parts of the country. He said the solid part (silage) would be separated from the liquid and processed for drinking.
The MD said the silage would be treated to help boost agriculture purposes in the country while the liquid part of the waste would also be treated and supplied back to society for domestic purposes.
He added that the liquid waste is made up of water and some contaminated solid particles and as soon as it is separated, it is good for drinking. “It is potable, colourless, odourless and contains all the ingredients of any ordinary water,” he assured.
Speaking to the DAILY HERITAGE, the MD revealed that about 95% of civil work on the facility has been completed, 90% of equipment have also been brought into the country and a team of contractors have also arrived in the country “what we are going to do now in the next few days is the installation of the plant.
“Let’s give ourselves at least the next four months, the company will put to good use all the liquid waste in the capital, thereby making sure that the environment is free of all liquid waste,” he said.
Dr. Amponsah made these revelations last Friday July 17, when a team of students from James Madison University toured the facility to learn about their operations.
The MD said ACARP was established in 2012 and has been processing over 600 tonnes of refuse in the capital into organic compost to enhance the richness of the soil for agricultural purposes, save the environment by protecting the depletion of the ozone layer and also help reduce the pressure on the few landfill sites in the capital.
He said the company is currently handicapped in managing all the 3,000 tonnes of refuse produced daily in the capital because the company is over stretched and currently undertaking expansion to process more to rid the city of dirt.
Dr Amponsah stated that Ghanaians must rise up and fight the canker of garbage in the system, otherwise “we will find them back in our drains and gutters-that was what we saw on June 3. “If you refuse to collect the garbage and push it into the drains, the rain will expose you- the waste hidden in our gutters will surely come back to us,” he stated.
He called on other private companies to venture into the sector to help manage the garbage in the city, adding that, though it requires huge investment, it also has huge economic benefits even though it cleans the city, it is also economically viable to engage in.”
He, therefore, appealed to the government for the regular payment of the tipping fees from the various municipalities to enhance the smooth running of the facility.
The students were taken round the facility, by the operations manager, Emanuel Oteng to be abreast with the operations of ACARP and how the garbage is processed into organic compost after which various questions were posed with corresponding answers from management.
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