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The impact of waste tyres

Henny Seibeb of Green Cycle Investments, Benedict Libanda, CEO of EIF and Ndeulipula Hamutumwa of Green Cycle Investments during the hand over ceremony. (Photograph contributed)

Henny Seibeb of Green Cycle Investments, Benedict Libanda, CEO of EIF and Ndeulipula Hamutumwa of Green Cycle Investments during the hand over ceremony. (Photograph contributed)Henny Seibeb of Green Cycle Investments, Benedict Libanda, CEO of EIF and Ndeulipula Hamutumwa of Green Cycle Investments during the hand over ceremony. (Photograph contributed)

A three month long study is set to conduct the impact and effects waste tyres have on the environment and cost to Namibia’s economy.
The initiative is the brainchild of Henny Seibeb and his partner Ndeulipula Hamutumwa who together formed Green Cycle Investments, a local entity which forms partnerships with other entities to promote green economy amongst others.

According to Henny Seibeb, partner in Green Cycle Investments, waste tyres are an eyesore to the environment and if not stockpiled by municipality, waste tyres pose a headache in landfill management because they are non-biodegradable, which creates a serious threat to human health. “Waste tyres provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes which carry and transmit life-threatening diseases such as dengue fever, encephalitis, malaria and the west Nile virus,” said Seibeb.
He said since no current comprehensive study has been conducted to determine the actual cost waste tyres have to the environment and the country as a whole, Green Cycle Investments intends to fill this market gap hence the decision to conduct research on waste tyres.
The entity recently received a grant of N$ 150 000 from the Environmental Investment Fund to conduct the three month study which will be conducted by Monasa Development Consultants on behalf of Green Cycle Investments who will then present the results. Jason Kasuto, a PhD candidate from University of Western Cape is the lead researcher.
“Our quest is to play a role in contributing to efforts against climate change and environmental degradation by studying global trends in the waste tyre collection, treatment and value addition. Green Cycle has identified the market gap to create immense possibilities with waste tyre granulate,” Seibeb noted.
He added that the research is vital and the results to the community will be positive in terms of social, economic as well as environmental. He said communities will be indirectly benefiting from reduced Green House Gas emissions in the event that waste tyres are not burnt. Also, the results from the research will effectively contribute to solid waste management and help to ensure implementation of health and safety provision for workers.
Seibeb further said the possibility to produce multi-fuel from burnt tyres as an alternative to diesel for tractors and ships is possible and has been tested in other parts of the world.
“Green Cycle will at the end of the day, after careful research and the consideration of the recommendations in it thereof, try to provide commercial solutions to the problem,” said Seibeb.

 

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