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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Unraveling the urban poor's engagement with electronic waste in Accra, Ghana
Author:Oteng-Ababio, MartinISNI
Year:2013
Periodical:Legon Journal of Sociology (ISSN 0855-6261)
Volume:5
Issue:1
Pages:40-61
Language:English
Geographic term:Ghana
Subjects:waste management
informal sector
urban poverty
livelihoods
Abstract:Based on the results of 80 closed-ended structured questionnaires administered to e-waste workers at the Agbogbloshie scrap yard and 20 key informant interviews, this study examines how the marginalized, particularly the youth in the urban economy, make a living through e-waste recycling. The findings reveal a paradox: on the one hand, there is a diverse, local ingenuity as well as a livelihood opportunity in the e-waste business. On the other hand, the results present signals of potential environmental and health dangers associated with e-waste recycling practices. The paper concludes that policy choices for city authorities and their development partners are not clear-cut. It calls for a strong community collaborative approach which facilitates the process of good urban governance, and for an ideal mix of informal sector experience with formal sector technology to create a platform for efficient exploitation of the economic value of e-waste while ensuring sustainable urban environmental management. Bibliogr., note, sum. [Journal abstract]
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