15 Jul 2021

 The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism has developed an Integrated Waste Management Policy to provide a conducive environment for promotion of waste recovery and recycling initiatives.

Answering a question on behalf of environment minister in Parliament on Wednesday, Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr Machana Shamukuni, said activities that provided such included At-Source Segregation of Waste, which was in line with international best practice. 

As an example, he said the ministry recently launched At-Source Segregation of Waste at government enclave which was engaging more with companies dealing in waste. 

He added that the ministry was also planning to host a Waste Pitso for further engagements with the industry for them to derive value from waste.

Furthermore, he said the ministry together with other relevant stakeholders had a responsibility for mainstreaming, advocacy and outreach on public education and awareness on environmental issues, particularly on waste management issues. 

He said the ministry had an annual budgetary provision for such activities under the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control. 

Under the department, he said, there was a division solely responsible for education and advocacy as well as a plan of activities where they addressed stakeholders including full councils across the country.

Mr Shamukuni said the Integrated Waste Management Policy would be tabled during the ongoing sitting and would advocate for waste recovery and recycling. 

In order to achieve sustainability in the waste recovery and recycling initiatives, he said the ministry together with relevant stakeholders, would need to establish infrastructure for waste recovery and recycling.

The ministry would also promote stakeholder participation and strategic partnership in waste management, involve private sector and create conducive environment, among other things.

Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Mephato Reatile, had wanted to appreciate progress regarding compliance with international waste segregation standards.

MP Reatile also asked whether there was a budget or department geared at waste management education for households and business and if it was possible for Botswana to segregate waste and recycle it on a sustainable basis.

Further, he wanted to know if the ministry would consider basing the waste and recycle it on a sustainable basis, including basing the waste recycling system in his constituency. Ends