Pyrolysis: Potential for waste tyre and WEEE plastic processing in Ghana

This report explores the feasibility and environmental implications of using pyrolysis as a waste management solution for end-of-life tyres (ELTs) and plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Ghana. It provides a comprehensive overview of pyrolysis technology, detailing its processes, products (such as pyrolysis oil, gas, and char), and the associated environmental risks and opportunities. The study emphasizes the complexity of pyrolysis operations and the importance of proper emission controls, especially given the hazardous compounds that may be generated or transferred into pyrolytic products.

Field visits to pyrolysis plants in Ghana reveal that current practices often involve outdated and poorly controlled processes, resulting in substantial environmental and health risks. The visited facilities operate batch-based systems, with minimal pretreatment of feedstock and no meaningful emission control or post-processing of outputs. Pyrolysis oil is widely sold as a fuel substitute without refining. This poses fire hazards and, if the pyrolysis oil is used in processes lacking adequate pollution control,  contributes to toxic emissions. Wastewater and solid residues like pyrolysis char are often handled inadequately, exacerbating the negative environmental impact.

Despite these shortcomings, the report recognizes the potential role of pyrolysis under optimal conditions and in the absence of better alternatives, particularly for high-volume waste streams like ELTs. However, in accordance with the waste hierarchy, it strongly recommends that pyrolysis as an energy recovery method should play a subordinate role to reuse and recycling. The report outlines a series of practical recommendations, including the development of technical guidelines, improved enforcement and institutional coordination, a digital registry for facilities, and the establishment of a national knowledge-sharing platform. It also encourages learning from international best practices to build a safer and more sustainable sector.

Ultimately, the report concludes that while technically viable, pyrolysis in its current form in Ghana is a high-risk, low-yield treatment pathway with largely negative environmental performance. Significant investments and regulatory improvements are necessary to transition towards a more sustainable and compliant pyrolysis sector.