16 Feb 2021

The Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control has expressed concern about the increase in clinical waste in the district.

In an interview, Maun District coordinator, Mr Mabala Letsatle, said such increase, especially at a time when COVID-19 was rapidly spreading in the country, had put more pressure on designated facilities, particularly incinerators.

Therefore, Mr Letsatle encouraged organisations and individuals to ensure proper disposal of waste.

“We are facing challenges of breakdowns because if you have more waste in a small facility it causes serious strain. 

But our partner the North West District Council is working round the clock to maintain the landfill incinerator while we are currently using the one at Letsholathebe Hospital,” he said.

Mr Letsatle said waste emanating from COVID-19 should be burnt to avoid the spread of the disease.

He said the department was mandated to ensure that those responsible complied with waste management guidelines to control pollution, adding that licensed private waste carriers should also strive to attain environmental sustainability.

“The department also ensures air quality of acceptable standards by monitoring it,” he said.   

Again, Mr Letsatle indicated that waste water was a main challenge in the district as the North West District had water bodies such as rivers and the delta, saying facilities in place only partially treated waste water while the water table was high.

“We hope the waste water network that is in construction in the district will help address the waste water challenge,” he said.

He added that solid waste was also produced in high volume in the district and that put pressure on landfills.

“There are also challenges of emerging waste such as e-waste emanating from electronic appliances, which needs proper disposal,” he said.

He said the department continued to sensitise Batswana on waste recycle and reuse as a way of preserving land as landfills required more space.

He noted that some Batswana still resorted to burning waste while some drivers removed catalytic convertors from their vehicles, thus air was polluted.

“People still lack knowledge in proper waste control although there are structures in place at the council that collect waste to ensure proper disposal,” he said.

Nonetheless, Mr Letsatle said Batswana could explore job opportunities that include private waste carriers, clinical waste carriers as well as electrical waste recycling and reuse, among others.

Taking advantage of such opportunities, he said, would also help reduce waste that was taken to landfills.

Meanwhile, he indicated that the 1998 Waste Management Act was still relevant although the department had frequently introduced regulations to address emerging issues such as electronic waste. Ends