Never let it be said that Ghanaians don’t know how to make treasure out of other countries’ trash. Sadly, just like many developing countries, much of the waste from richer countries further north end up here: the ‘tsunami of textile waste’ of used clothing from the west offloaded at Accra markets, the mountains of e-waste (much of it toxic) dumped in the district of Agbogbloshie. But thanks to a relentlessly resourceful nature, local entrepreneurs are recycling the waste into shoes, tote bags, toys, tiles, ceiling fans, egg incubators, you name it…  

At the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) we’re always impressed by the ingenuity displayed by the many incredible people working in the circular economy. That’s why, when Tahir Field Recycling [TFR] reached out to join our business incubation program, we felt compelled to have them on board. 

Tahir Field Recycling is based in the city of Sekyere Nkwanta, near Kumasi in the Ashanti region. In the past few years, they’ve refined and recycled waste engine oil into usable oil for the automotive industry. It’s yet another example of can-do innovation. 

Unfortunately, though Tahir Field Recycling was beset by challenges, many out of their control. Limited access to finances meant they were struggling to diversify and couldn’t invest in new technology that would improve their operations. The costs of subletting parts of their business to third-party vendors were also hitting the bottom line too.  

Consumer confidence in their products was also waning, largely because Tahir Fields Recycling lacked the equipment needed to measure the quality of their refined oils. Meanwhile, because many of their staff were engineers, they were great at developing technological solutions, but not so brilliant at business skills such as bookkeeping or keeping up with regulatory requirements such as permits. 

New Thinking  

At GCIC, we’re passionate about supporting Ghanaian ventures that deliver solutions to help mitigate the devastation of the climate crisis and to innovate. Having assessed Tahir Field Recycling’s business model, one of our first recommendations was revising the way they operated. So, instead of selling large individual quantities of recycled oil, we suggested selling it in smaller, 20 litre containers instead. This would make Tahir Field Recycling’s oil instantly more affordable to a greater number of low-capital retailers, therefore expanding their customer base.  

We also advised they invest in new equipment. Not only would this speed up Tahir Field Recycling’s production processes, but it would also leave their business less reliant upon on third-party vendors during the refining process. 

A new blending machine (which adds additives to the production of engine oil) and filtration machine (which improves the quality of the oils they produced) have since helped Tahir Field Recycling whittle oil production time down from one week to a single day. 

The Kumasi business also purchased a viscometer and flashpoint tester, both of which can provide accurate assessments of the quality of the refined oil produced at their plant. Again, it’s made production more efficient. Before, it took five hours for Tahir Field Recycling to test the quality of their oil. With the new machines, it’s just five minutes. The accuracy of these machines is also something they can put on labels, reassuring customers.  

Because gaining the necessary business documents had previously proved to be something of a stumbling-block for Tahir Field Recycling, GCIC helped them acquire certifications from the Ghana Standards Authority. Permits from both the Environmental Protection Agency and National Petroleum Authority are also forthcoming.  

Nowhere is the success of the GCIC-Tahir relationship more clearly illustrated than in the numbers, which speak for themselves. GCIC is proud to report that since working with us, Tahir Field Recycling has gone from producing 5,000 litres of oil per week to 10,000. By the end of 2024, this forecast is to reach 16,000 litres. Tahir Field Recycling’s customer base has also grown. When we first met the company, they had 13 clients. Today, it’s 45. Tahir Field Recycling’s revenue has more than tripled too, by 239.29% in Q2.  

The Ripple Effect  

It isn’t just Tahir Fields Recycling that is benefitting from the union: there’s a ripple effect on the local economy and beyond too. As the company has grown to keep up with demand, it’s provided more jobs in the area: Tahir Fields Recycling has taken on eight new employees. And because production has increased, their oil has become more affordable for local customers, who are using recycled oil to power vehicles needed for their own enterprises.  

Tahir Fields Recycling is doing superb work in the fight against the climate crisis (did you know that each litre of recycled oil prevents the pollution of a million litres of drinking water?) and we here at GCIC hope to support many similar entrepreneurs/businesses in Ghana’s circular economy in the years ahead. This country – and the world’s – transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy won’t be achieved without them…