Accra, Ghana – August 26, 2025 – Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, showcased the country’s innovative waste management and circular economy efforts at the Western Africa Workshop on Waste Management and the Circular Economy, held in Accra, Ghana from August 26 to 28, 2025.
The workshop gathered government officials, international organizations, private sector leaders, and civil society members from across West Africa to discuss data challenges, technical skills, and evidence-based policies to speed up progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
In his opening remarks on Tuesday, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo emphasized that waste management is a priority both nationally and globally. He pointed out that Liberia faces the twin challenges of rapid urban growth and increasing waste production.
He shared that Liberia generates over 1.5 million kilograms of waste daily, with more than 84 percent left unmanaged. This leads to blocked drains, frequent flooding, polluted land and water, disease outbreaks, and lost economic opportunities for many young people.
The EPA Chief Executive stressed that waste management is not just an environmental concern but also a chance to create jobs, drive innovation, and combat climate change. He noted that while Liberians are taking action, they need financial support to roll out technologies being developed locally.
Dr. Yarkpawolo highlighted Liberia’s National Solid Waste Management Policy, adopted in 2024, as a strong framework promoting recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy solutions. The policy also encourages local entrepreneurship, job creation, and private investment.
“The policy includes cost-recovery systems, extended producer responsibility, and public-private partnerships, aligning with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
He shared two key examples of Liberia’s innovation. Green Guard Eco-Solution Incorporated is building advanced Phase Osmotic Degradation Systems that can process 135,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year.
“These systems turn methane into clean electricity, produce biogas for cooking, create compost for farming, and generate recyclables for local markets. Plans are underway to build nine of these systems across Liberia, creating thousands of jobs and empowering communities,” he added.
He also mentioned the Transformative Climate Action Pilot Project on Waste Management, supported by the Canadian government through Novasphere. Novasphere is setting up five composting centers across Liberia and working with city mayors, township commissioners, women’s groups, market associations, and traditional leaders as partners in the design.
“For the first time, Liberia will have reliable data on waste composition, emissions reductions, and the economic impact of composting,” Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo revealed.
The Liberian delegation also includes Hon. Prince Tamba, Deputy Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Public Works; Margret Beyslow, Assistant Manager of Environmental Research & Radiation Safety at the EPA; and Mr. James Karmoh Sowah, Jr., Deputy Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit and National Consultant at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.
The workshop, organized by the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development with UNEP, the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership, the African Development Bank, and others, aims to improve data systems, promote policy based on evidence, and support regional cooperation on waste management and circular economy practices.
Across West Africa, challenges like uncollected waste, open dumping, and low recycling rates remain serious. Without action, the region risks becoming the largest source of poorly managed plastic waste worldwide by 2060.
The three-day event features presentations, country case studies, group discussions, and hands-on sessions on data collection and policy implementation. It will end with a visit to the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant.
Dr. Yarkpawolo called on regional partners to join forces to reduce waste, recover value, and build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for West Africa.
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