occupation in Accra. They also earned more than the US $1 a day target for poverty reduction under the Millennium Development Goal#1. Hence, it can be deduced that scavenging could help in the reduction of poverty, if the activities are well structured or orga-nized. In other countries, it has also been noted that the contribu-tion of the informal economic sector to the attainment of the Millennium Development goals (MDGs) could be significant (Gonzenbach & Coad, 2007; Medina, 2006).
Scavengers surveyed recover materials based on their economic value. From the survey, about 33.3% of scavengers recover only metals, 20.8% collect only plastics and 45.8% were collecting metals, plastics and bottles. Very few scavengers are able to recover card-board or clean paper from the disposal sites. The value of recycla-bles at the sites depends on its quality and state. For example clean plastics may sell for GH ¢0.35 while unclean ones go for GH ¢0.30
per kg. The survey also revealed that the price of recyclables is mainly influenced by the price as determined by the itinerant buyer, middlemen, local recycling facility or exporters. It is also
notable that seasonal differences contribute to the pricing of
recyclable materials recovered by scavengers or itinerant buyers.
For example, during the dry season the consumption of water
increases relatively, with the accompanying increases in the
disposal of drinking water sachets and plastic bottles or beverage
bottles. During this period supply outweighs demand and this often
results in price reductions. Table 5 shows the price of various
recyclables in the study area at the time of the survey.