Beyond clean-ups, Friends of the Nation (FoN) is working with coastal communities to reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place, and to find value in the waste that remains. This is at the heart of our push toward a circular economy along Ghana’s coast, one where materials are reused, recycled, or repurposed rather than discarded into the marine environment.

What We Do

FoN supports waste segregation and small-scale recycling initiatives in fishing communities, working with waste pickers, youth groups, and local entrepreneurs to identify viable markets for plastics, nets, and other recoverable materials. We promote the responsible disposal and recycling of end-of-life fishing gear, a major but often overlooked source of ocean plastic, and explore partnerships that convert collected plastic waste into usable products or income-generating ventures. Where possible, we connect these efforts to district waste management systems, advocating for better collection infrastructure at fish landing sites and coastal markets.

Why It Matters

Waste reduction and recycling do more than protect the ocean; they create economic opportunity. A circular approach to coastal waste can generate income for community members who collect and process recoverable materials, reduce the cost and environmental damage of unmanaged waste, and cut the volume of plastic that ends up entangling marine life or breaking down in the fisheries communities rely on.