01 May 2023

Batswana have been urged to embrace circular economy as it relies on cheap, easily accessible materials and energy.

Speaking during a Waste Management Botswana EU Policy Dialogue symposium, recently in Gaborone, the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) Foundation chairman, Mr Koen Rademaekers said Batswana needed to understand the concept of circular economy and waste management.

Mr Rademaekers said the circular economy was a model of production and consumption, which involved sharing, leading, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible, ‘in that way the life circle of products is extended.’

He explained that in practice, it implied reducing waste to a minimum, adding that when a product reached the end of its life, its material would be kept within the economy for recycling, thereby creating further value.

Mr Rademaekers said if Batswana understood the concept well it would also help them understand the waste value chains in Botswana ranging from waste generation, waste storage, waste transport, waste recycling, waste treatment and disposal.

He stated that moving towards a more circular economy has both an environment and economic impact, as there were potential opportunities that would reduce pressures on the environment.

Mr Rademaekers said the circular economy could also reduce greenhouse gas emissions through better waste management and reduced use of resources such as energy, water, land and materials in manufacturing resulting in positive impacts on the climate.

He further said it had the potential to reduce raw material dependence, as well as creating job and save consumers money, adding that moving towards a more circular economy could increase competitiveness, stimulate innovation, boost economic growth and create jobs.

On the other hand, Mr Rademaekers said the concept could trigger a large innovation drive across all sectors of the economy.

He explained that the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) focused on developing and resourcing financially feasible circular economy projects in Africa.

The symposium aimed to give opportunity to local experts, industry representatives, members of the waste business ecosystem and civil society organisations to discuss the waste situation of Botswana and possible way forward to circular economy.

Participants had the opportunity to discuss challenges and opportunities, most urgent issues and good practices and prioritized waste management areas.

The three-day symposium ended with a road map that would include infrastructure needs, value chain, recommendation for regulatory charges, gaps in education and skill development, university networking opportunities to foster environmental studies and curricular development, business opportunities. ENDs