City pulls out all stop to manage waste

As part of its efforts to manage waste efficiently and effectively, The City of Windhoek’s Economic Development and Environment Department this week commissioned its licensing system of waste removal contractors.
According to Utete Karimbue-Mupaine, Strategic Executive in the Economic Development and Environment Department, the City aims to implement measures which will enable the early detection of any improper waste management practices and encourage cleaner production and waste minimisation.
She said research conducted during the formulation of the Solid Waste Management Policy revealed a gap in the monitoring of waste management activities at industry level and that its waste management at that level currently follows a react and treat approach instead of an anticipate and prevent approach.
“The implementation of the Registration and Licensing Strategy fills the gap and serves to direct and monitor waste management activities at industry level. The overall objective of this strategy is to enhance sustainable waste management practices at industry level, through the implementation of the waste management hierarchy in all major industries by 2020 in order to prevent pollution and conserve the environment,” she said.
She said waste management priorities indicate avoidance, re-use and recycling are preferable to waste disposal. “Waste contractors and the waste generator [must] think beyond transport of waste and encourage the recycling of waste through initiatives currently implemented by the City and its partners.”
The Waste Management Regulations No. 16 promulgated under section 94(1) of the Local Authorities  Act, 1992 (Act 23 of 1992) identifies waste types which may only be collected by a Licensed Waste Contractor who has been issued with a valid licence by the City of Windhoek.
The waste types include industrial waste, business waste, hazardous waste, health care risk waste, garden, bulky, household, builders and recyclable waste collected and disposed of for commercial gain.
“All waste contractors have to be authorised by the City of Windhoek to transport waste within the boundaries, The licensing process includes the submission of information regarding the activities and operations of the Waste Contractor, followed by inspection to ensure that all the vehicles and equipment used in the transportation of waste comply with the requirements set,” she added.
Upon completion, a license is issued with license stickers for each vehicle. All vehicles entering treatment and disposal sites will in future be required to display the license sticker as a sign of compliance to the Waste Management Regulations.
“The licensing process is simple and serves to protect the generator, the transporters and the Windhoek citizens at large as it will ensure that waste is transported in a proper manner for disposal at approved facilities.”