{
  "id": 17480698,
  "title": "GAYO, some Accra schools turn to composting and recycling to beat the waste problem with fresh bins",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/gayo-some-accra-schools-turn-to-composting-and-recycling-to-beat-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-31T21:56:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/gayo-some-accra-schools-turn-to-composting-and-recycling-to-beat-the-waste-problem-with-fresh-bins/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Accra schools are grappling with waste management issues as collection trucks often mix sorted rubbish, leading some institutions to abandon sorting altogether. The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) aims to rectify this by collecting separated organic and plastic waste directly from schools in seven Greater Accra municipalities through its Zero Waste initiative. Education officials in the La Dade Kotopon Municipality, where the problem is most acute, report that many schools gave up sorting when the collection trucks recontaminated the waste. With about 60 percent of school-generated waste being organic, which produces potent greenhouse gas methane when left to rot, addressing this issue is crucial. GAYO plans to set up sorting systems in participating schools and train students, with separated organic waste being turned into compost for school gardens. Plastics will be processed into pellets at GAYO's material recovery facility. The initiative seeks to generate income for schools and improve the overall cleanliness of the nation, echoing sentiments expressed by Assistant Headmistress at Forces Senior High School, who advocates for more such projects.",
  "summary": "Schools in Accra that separate their waste say their efforts are being wasted because collection trucks mix the sorted rubbish back together when they pick it up. Education officials in the La Dade Kotopon Municipality say the problem has led many schools to give up sorting altogether. Now, the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) wants to change that. Under its Zero Waste initiative, it plans…",
  "key_points": [
    "GAYO's Zero Waste initiative targets Accra schools' waste management",
    "60% of school waste is organic, producing harmful methane",
    "Composting and recycling to generate income and improve cleanliness"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}