08 Aug 2022

Environment upkeep remains a serious challenge within the Maun Administration Authority.

Acting principal environmental officer, Mr Gamodimo Goitsemang, said in a press briefing recently that issues of illegal dumping of waste were worrisome.

The council, he said, was doing its best to promote cleanliness, but such efforts were still frustrated by some people who cared less about waste management practices.

“We have an arrangement to collect waste in homesteads and organisations once a week.

We even go as far as outsourcing waste collection services in some villages, but some people continue to make up clean process difficult,” he said.

Mr Goitsemang further said the council had strengthened community engagement strategies whereby village leadership played a key role in the upkeep of their villages’ clean.

He said though council came up with Waste Management Bye Laws in 2020, there was still littering in yards, streets and leisure areas.  

He called on the community to join forces with the council to combat littering, noting that waste collection was costly as the council spent over P7 million in outsourcing services on annual basis.

Two companies, he said, had been engaged on two-year contract to collect waste from the landfill for recycling.  

Asked about the spilling of sewage behind Riley’s hotel, Mr Goitsemang said a relevant authority was handling the issue.

He appreciated organisations helping to clean Thamalakane River banks and implored them to extend efforts to promote and maintain clean environment to other areas with similar needs.

Members of the community were also encouraged to avoid burning waste, but seek advice from council on waste disposal.

“Burning of households’ garbage is dangerous to people’s health, the environment and it’s against the law,” he added.

Senior assistant council secretary, Ms Iris Sitayelo, also noted that waste could cause a variety of issues beginning with environmental impact which may lead to disruption of community’s good health and quality lifestyle.

She appealed to the community to join hands with the local authority and make their villages better places to live and visit.  

The ideal way to handle the problem, she said, was for all to take responsibility and try their best to properly dispose waste.

Ms Sitayelo appreciated that some community members were exploiting opportunities of recycling waste, but decried that locally recycling was costly.

“Turning waste into money is a challenge as some waste like tyres has no market while some like bottles have to be taken to South Africa for shredding.  

Waste such as boxes and papers are also exported”.

Giving a vote of thanks, acting assistant council secretary, Mr Jackalas Jackalas urged the community participate in community campaigns promoting healthier environment.

Maun, he said was a tourist destination, hence imperative to keep its environment clean all the time. He said environmental protection could be realized through collaboration and commitment on issues of environmental management by stakeholders. ENDS