Swakopmund gets waste management policy

The Swakopmund Town Council intends to improve the quality of life for all residents and visitors by encouraging the avoidance, reduction, re-use and recycling of waste to eliminate any environmental impacts associated with waste generation and waste handling. It is for this reason that Town Council now approved a Waste Management Policy.

The new Waste Management Policy consists of a 19 page report, part of which is attached to the Agenda of the recent Town Council meeting. The general aim and objective of the policy is to provide a basis for a by-law aimed at regulating waste generation and waste management services within the municipal area of Swakopmund.
Currently Swakopmund has one landfill where most household waste ends up. Town Council entered into an agreement with the private entity Rent-A-Drum, which has set up a Recycling Sorting Plant next to the landfill. At the facility, various recyclable waste is sorted and then sent to other destinations where it is recycled. Current estimations indicate that Swakopmund and surrounding residents generate about 70 tons of waste daily. About 80% of that can be recycled.
Amongst the many aims of the policy it also has the purpose to improve socio-economic sustainability, public and environmental health by providing equitable and sustainable waste management services at reasonable prices. Furthermore it should promote and encourage effective waste recycling.
It also has the objective to develop mechanisms to encourage the private sector to enter into solid waste management operations, and to formally connect the public and private sectors towards improving the effectiveness and efficiency management of waste. “The main objectives are to also promote a sense of responsibility through environmental education and environmental awareness programmes,” it states.
The Swakopmund Recycling Sorting Plant officially started operating in October 2015: A total of 77 tons of solid were sorted in the first month, which would otherwise have ended up at the landfill. Up until the month of February this figure has grown to 208 tons. If every household and business in Swakopmund and surrounding areas would strictly enforce the separation of recyclable waste and have it end up at the sorting plant, this figure could stand at more than 50 tons daily.