To assist the development of a circular economy in Ghana, trash management behemoth Zoomlion Ghana Limited has helped informal waste pickers, its own employees, and other waste managers expand their capacities in waste material recovery at the Kingdom of Thailand.

The idea of a circular economy establishes a production and consumption system that recycles waste products in order to prolong their useful lives.

At the Asean Institute of Recycling and the Wongpanit International firm Limited in the Thai province of Phitsanulok, the team has started a rigorous two-week training course in urban mining and garbage recovery.

A Communications specialist with the Jospong Group of Companies, Isabella Gyau Orhin who is with the team in Thailand in an interview disclosed that “the concept of circular economy offers opportunities by reducing waste and creating employment opportunities. The Jospong Group is committed to developing Ghana’s recycling ecosystem where there is Zero tolerance for waste material hence the need to learn from global standards”.

“The team comprised of informal waste pickers who have demonstrated commitment in waste recovery, selected leaders of the church of Pentecost who are leading the Church’s Environmental Care Campaign in Ghana and waste management technocrats within the Jospong Group .”

Mrs. Orhin provided an explanation stating that the selection of Phitsanulok, also known as the City of Recycling in Thailand, was a deliberate and strategic choice. This decision was based on the city's zero waste model, which emphasizes the use of recycling to establish a circular economy. The model relies on simple technologies and encourages community involvement, aligning with Jospong Group's mission to enhance people's lives and protect the environment.

During the event, General Vichit Yathip, a Senior Government Advisor and Senator of Thailand, delivered a welcome address. He encouraged the team to adopt Thailand's circular economy model, highlighting the success achieved by the Wongpanit International company through waste recycling.

“The Wongpanit business model is sustainable and has created employment opportunities for the people of Thailand and also saves the environment from pollution”, he emphasised.

The President of Wongpanit Group, Dr. Somthai Wongcharoen who has been crowned in Thailand as “The King of Recycling” in his statement expressed his excitement for the partnership between the Jospong Group and the Wongpanit Group as both businesses are inclined towards saving the environment and creating employment for their people.

He said the team is being trained in “urban mining business with recycling” which will help convert waste to valued resources in areas of plastics waste, paper waste, metal scrap, electronic waste, glass scrap, and innovations in creating value from municipal solid waste according to the circular economy concept.

Dr. Somthai added that during his visit to Ghana he noticed huge opportunities to grow the economy of Ghana through the circular economy concept hence the training is heavily based on “hands-on experience and practicals.”

The Coordinator of the Environmental Care Campaign of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, said the model will work well with the aggregators trained by the Church of Pentecost.

“As a church we are interested in the total wellbeing of our members and not only in their spiritual lives. Since the Church has become the centre of the lives of our members, we must endeavour to add value to every facet of their values, he hinted. Thus, this concept of recycling will create jobs for church members and help improve their economic situations.”

The 30-member  team is working with Wongpanit and its franchise outlets in Thailand to help easily implement the model in Ghana.