Circular and net-zero opportunities in the management of electronic waste in low- and middle-income countries: the example of Ghana

Low- and middle-income countries suffer from excessive accumulation of electronic waste (e-waste), partly owing to a lack of recycling infrastructure and relevant policy frameworks, which can lead to significant toxic exposure of the surrounding populations and the environment. Using Ghana as an example, the complexity of the network of actors involved in the e-waste management value chain is discussed from this perspective. More specifically, this study aims to characterize the structure of the e-waste sector in Accra, Ghana, and investigate approaches to render a more feasible circular economy. An alternative framework for gold recycling is proposed. Emerging environmentally friendly gold recycling technologies are discussed to support the feasibility of this approach. Overall, this would enable circular management of e-waste and improve the health of the informal sector. Based on this analysis, the recovery of gold could ideally generate 450 million USD/year, while significantly reducing the environmental footprint associated with the life cycle of gold by extending its lifetime. Examining the global warming potential (GWP) linked to the production of key materials in e-waste shows that gold exhibits the most significant environmental impact, accounting for 86% of the total GWP of the studied e-waste sample.