2026 Reports

Transforming E-Waste-Reliant Livelihoods in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area

Benhallam, Jaad

Until its demolition in 2021, the Agbogbloshie dump in Accra, Ghana served as the world's primary destination for electronic waste, much of it shipped illegally from EU countries. Around 80,000 men, women, and children subsisted on the dump as scrap dealers and "burner boys," exposing themselves to toxic chemicals and severe health risks while sustaining an informal economy built on e-waste recovery. Launched in 2013, the Agbogbloshie Makerspace Platform (AMP) treats such dumping sites as urban-scale open-air manufactories where recovered materials become inputs for new products. Through participatory workshops, more than 750 grassroots makers collaborated with over 750 STEAM students and young professionals to co-design and prototype products including jerry can computers, plastic tiles, fridge-part paint sprayers, and a copper shredder that eliminates the need for cable burning. AMP operates through three interconnected components: a modular makerspace kiosk built from prefabricated recycled steel, customizable maker toolkits, and an Android app that supports information sharing and trading among makers. As AMP plans to expand to Senegal and other Global South cities, the case argues that informal waste economies can transition into sustainable micro-industrial ecosystems when paired with participant-led infrastructure and skills training in fabrication, design, and entrepreneurship.

Keywords: e-waste, health, micro-industrial ecosystems