Turning waste into business
Amidst growing concerns about waste disposal and environmental degradation, there are sustained calls for the need to turn waste into business as a broader part of Botswana’s commitment towards value chain development. Turning waste into business offers an opportunity to find lasting solutions to challenges and setbacks in Botswana’s socio-economic development, given a paradigm shift to sustainable waste management. The transition towards a circular economy as recommended by the Integrated Waste Management Policy challenges the nation to adopt innovative and sustainable concepts towards waste management by converting waste into valuable resource to enhance livelihoods. As the nation embarks on this important exercise, local authorities have a broad mandate to adequately provide satisfactory services to the public and customers, despite capacity constraints. The integrated Waste Management
Policy encourages stakeholders to minimise waste generation and adopt strategies that convert waste into valuable resources to create jobs.
There are great prospects for waste value chain where communities and individuals should step up their enterprises in picking and selling of recyclable waste, while small and medium sized recycling buyback and dealers and local recycling companies are equally critical in the value chain development, says sustainability commentator, Masego Ramakgathi.
Other activities, adds Ramakgathi include intermediate processes and businesses that pack and transport materials to end users locally, regionally and globally as well as waste re-use activities such as making flower pots with tyres.
Ramakgathi also says the value chain activities will assist in addressing waste management challenges such as increased volumes of waste streams, which are complex to handle, increased production of waste, inadequate waste disposal facilities, indiscriminate disposal of waste and littering, inadequate waste recover initiatives and high waste management costs.
Guided by the Local Government Ministry’s strategy and transformation plan (MSTP 2021-25), local authorities are expected to mobilise communities on waste management issues, especially on value chain development, in line with MSTP pillars of providing effective and efficient local services and infrastructure as well as building resilient, inclusive and sustainable local economies, says Ramakgathi.
Equally, the policy objectives, if fully implemented, offer the most sustainable and cost-effective approach to addressing waste management challenges in the country.
The proposed regional waste transfer station and waste sorting centre by Gaborone City Council will provide waste recovery and sorting facilities for Gaborone and surrounding areas.
Parallel to that, there is need to intensify public education and awareness strategies to instil the values in society of responsible citizens that care for the environment. To achieve this, all sectors of the economic development should integrate environmental management in the organisations, culminating in less incidents of illegal dumping, which impact on the aesthetic quality of public spaces. The role of the private sector in the development and delivery of waste management services and bringing in new technologies to support efficient waste management in the country is equally commendable.
As we chart a new path towards the circular economy, it is important to facilitate increased private sector participation through investments on technology for waste re-use and recycling to achieve the objectives of the Waste Policy and equally adopt an inclusive approach to addressing waste management issues in the country.