Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
by
Epfania Lepaleni
from Namibia
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science
Degree in Environmental and Resource Management
vorgelegt von
Epfania Lepaleni
Aus Namibia
Master Thesis eingereicht als Teilleistung zur Erreichung des akademischen Grades
Master of Science in Environmental and Resource Management
Declaration
I hereby declare that this thesis is the result of my own original research work carried
out at the Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus, Germany; within the
framework of the Master Programme in Environmental and Resource Management;
Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Process Engineering, Chair of Waste
Management.
I admit that the material contained herein has never been submitted either in whole or in
part for a degree at this or any other institution. All references to other scientific work or
sources are duly cited and acknowledged in this research.
Epfania Lepaleni
BSc, University of Namibia (UNAM)
Matriculation Number: 3058864
ii
Acknowledgement
Many thanks to Professor Gnter Busch and Doctor Marko Burkhardt for accepting to supervise this
thesis, for their comments and recommendations. I further extent my sincere gratitude to the following
Eenhana Town Council officials:
Mr Valde Ndevashiya (Chief Executive Officer) for permitting to do this research in Eenhana and assisting
with the necessary arrangements. Thanks to Mrs Martha Asser, Mr Thomas Uushona, Mr Paulus
Shilongo and Moses Shinana for their cooperation and overall support rendered throughout my field
research. Great thanks are due to Mr Ndawedwa Mwandingi for not hesitating to share his working table
during my stay at no official request. All other Eenhana Town Council staff members are thanked for the
entire good working atmosphere. The greetings, jokes and laughter shared kept me going and made my
stay a happy and success one.
My heartfelt appreciation to Honorable Councilor Mrs Olivier Hanghuwo for her dedication, motivation and
making our workshops participatory. Thanks to all OB Davids community members for devoting time to
the workshops, for carrying out the experiment and their cooperation throughout.
I further extent my appreciation to the very motivated and enthusiastic committee that freely volunteered
to assist with the experiment implementation and carrying out weekly monitoring namely: Junias David,
Jenifer Hanghuwo, Rebecca Nakanduungile, Simon Jackson, Titus H. Kauna and Mirjam Ruben. I truly
could not have made it alone, your time and effort are highly appreciated.
Miss Aina Shikongo is sincerely thanked for her support and availability even after hours for minutes
taking. Mr and Mrs Erasmus Ruben should be thanked for they patiently accommodated me during my
stay in Eenhana.
Special thanks to the German Academic Exchange Service-Science Partnerships for the Assessment of
Complex Earth System Processes (DAADSPACES) program for making financial provision towards my
study program and for enabling me to do this research in Namibia. The Desert Research Foundation of
Namibia (DRFN) is appreciated for their advice and invaluable comments.
I remain thankful to Dr Raili Hasheela, Dr Patrik Klintenberg, Miss Vanessa Stibitz and Mr Sem Sheyavali
for devoting their time to go through my work. Their valuable comments and advice contributed
significantly to the success of this thesis. My heartfelt appreciation finally goes to my caring, supporting
and loving family and then to all friends and everyone who have equally and positively contributed to this
thesis. Your prayers and words of courage kept me strong throughout. Thank you everyone. All what you
have done to me, do it to all others. Thanks to God and blessings from the Lord.
If you listen to advice and are willing to learn, one day you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20.
iii
Dedication
I dedicate this thesis to all upcoming scientists in the field of Environmental
Management and to Lepalenis family. Never give up or undermine your capabilities.
iv
Abstract
With increasing population growth and development, Eenhana as one of the fastest growing town in
Namibia is soon to face waste collection and disposal challenges if no improvement is made. Proper
waste management reduces environmental concerns, protects and maintains the quality of life, save
resources, improves services and promotes socio-economic development. Beside technical development,
community participation plays a role in ensuring effective local waste management systems. However
motivational measures to make people participate need to be identified and intensified. Community
participation contributes to the development of best practices, formulates effective waste management
policies and plans and improves peoples livelihood. Therefore, the thesis aimed to determine the present
waste management state in Eenhana Town, identify the existing challenges and suggest possible
mitigation measures, and mainly find and discuss motivational strategies to make people participate in
waste management. Methods employed include interviews, community workshops, field experiment,
observations and informal chats.
Results indicate that Eenhana Town has put in place various waste management measures such as the
provision of waste bins, waste collection and disposal, cleaning campaigns and drafted the waste
management policy. However several challenges hinder the efficiency of the town e.g. lack of knowledge
and awareness, limited staff members, limited equipment, inadequate financial resources, littering,
dumpsite vandalism and poor community participation. The community is willing to participate and
cooperate in ensuring proper waste management provided necessary materials are available and
relevant information is provided. Measures to make people participate in waste management include:
providing access to information, intensifying awareness raising and capacity building programs, provision
of incentives, supply enough equipment, job creation, assigning tasks to individuals, organizing
competition campaigns, engage all public members, establish and maintain good cooperation. It is worth
noting however that appropriate management requires an integrated and collaborative approach. This is
achieved if the community is sensitized and motivated to change behaviors and way of thinking towards
waste; to consider waste as a resource and to understand it is their responsibility too to minimize waste
problems and avoid environmental deterioration.
Key words: Waste Management, Eenhana Town, Ohangwena Region, Challenges, Community
Participation, Motivational Measure
Table of contents
Declaration ................................................................................................................................................... ii
Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................................... iii
Dedication ................................................................................................................................................... iv
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ v
List of figures ........................................................................................................................................... viii
List of tables ............................................................................................................................................... ix
List of acronyms ......................................................................................................................................... x
Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Background information ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Problem statement .............................................................................................................................. 3
1.3 Main research question ....................................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Goal ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Objectives of the study ........................................................................................................................ 4
1.6 Research questions ............................................................................................................................ 5
1.7 Significance of the study ..................................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 2: Methodology and study area .................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Study area ........................................................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................ 9
2.2.1 Data collection .............................................................................................................................. 9
2.2.2 Assessment of the communitys willingness to participate in waste reduction and separation . 10
Chapter 3: Literature review..................................................................................................................... 14
3.1 General introduction .......................................................................................................................... 14
3.2 Waste management .......................................................................................................................... 15
3.3 Specific examples of effects of improper managed waste ................................................................ 18
3.4 Stakeholders in waste management ................................................................................................. 19
3.5 Challenges in waste management .................................................................................................... 19
3.5.1 Limited infrastructures ................................................................................................................ 20
3.5.2 Inadequate funding .................................................................................................................... 20
3.5.3 Limited research institutions and staffs ...................................................................................... 21
3.5.4 Social issues .............................................................................................................................. 21
3.6 Community participation in waste management ............................................................................... 22
3.6.1 How do communities participate in waste management? .......................................................... 23
3.6.2 What benefits arise from community participation in waste management? ............................... 25
3.6.3 Benefits community members get by participating in waste management ................................ 25
Chapter 4: Results .................................................................................................................................... 27
vi
vii
List of figures
Figure 1. Map of Namibia including the Ohangwena Region, Windhoek and Eenhana Town ..................... 7
Figure 2. Eenhana Town, including OB location (black circle) (ETC, 2013) ................................................. 8
Figure 3. Design of the experiment and the assigned tasks in Eenhana Town 2013................................. 10
Figure 4. OB community workshops on waste management in EMPYC, Lepaleni, (2013) ....................... 13
Figure 5. Mini experiment volunteered committee and other participants, (Lepaleni, 2013) ...................... 13
Figure 6. Waste management hierarchy, (Windhoek Municipality, 2011) .................................................. 17
Figure 7. Type, size (liters) and quantity of bins at formal areas in Eenhana Town, 2013 ......................... 28
Figure 8. Estimated quantity of waste generated (%) in different sectors of Eenhana Town, 2013 ........... 28
Figure 9. Service providers (above) and point of operation (below) in Eenhana Town, 2013 .................... 29
Figure 10. Costs of different waste collection types in Eenhana Town, 2013, N$1.00:0.10 .................. 30
Figure 11. Waste handling from collection until disposal. Circles is the recommended pathway .............. 30
Figure 12. Dumpsite excavated pits (1) and the newly dumped waste (2) before landfilling, (Lepaleni,
2013) ........................................................................................................................................................... 31
Figure 13. Plastic re-use by members (1) and means to avoid generation by Lepaleni (2) ....................... 32
Figure 14. Possible means on how to make people participate in waste management ............................. 35
Figure 15. Different types of possible means of incentives ........................................................................ 36
Figure 16. Number of participants: first and second workshops, (EMPYC), 2013 ..................................... 37
Figure 17. Number of households represented at the last workshop and carried out tasks ...................... 37
Figure 18. An approximate quantity of waste separated in 3 weeks at OB. Mixes is the quantity of wrong
separation. MW: Monitoring week ............................................................................................................... 38
Figure 19. Full street drum at Tulipamwe informal location in Eenhana Town, (Lepaleni, 2013) ............... 43
Figure 20. Wilco recycling separating waste at the dump site in Eenhana Town, (Lepaleni, 2013) .......... 44
Figure 21. Newly established community ''garden'' kraal in Eenhana Town, (Lepaleni, 2013) .................. 47
Figure 22. Use of fire wood in Eenhana Town houses, (Lepaleni, 2013) ................................................... 53
Figure 23. An example of poor sanitation in Tulipamwe informal location in Eenhana Town .................... 56
Figure 24. Recommended approach to sustainable waste management, Lepaleni 2013 .......................... 77
Figure 25. Example of possible job creation incentive for Eenhana community ........................................ 79
viii
List of tables
Table 1: Collection points, frequency and containers for the various collection categories in Eenhana
Town (ETC, 2013) ....................................................................................................................................... 27
Table 2. Identified problems, measures put in place and recommendations ............................................. 33
Table 3. Identified challenges and solutions through workshops with regard to the use of shopping bags
.................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Table 4. Summary of challenges, possible solutions, implementation strategy and their feasibility in
Eenhana Town ............................................................................................................................................ 73
Table 5. Summary of challenges in using shopping bags, possible solutions, implementation strategy and
its feasibility ................................................................................................................................................. 76
Table 6. Estimated targets, indicators and verifications of what to achieve in 5-10 years, CGs: community
groups, WM: waste management ............................................................................................................... 78
Table 7. Developmental expectations for the cooperative in 5-10 years .................................................... 80
ix
List of acronyms
CBOs
CoW
City of Windhoek
DAPP
EMPYC
ET
Eenhana Town
ETC
GRN
MAWF
MET
MHSS
MRLGH
NAPPA
NGOs
Non-Governmental Organizations
NPC
NTA
NWMP
ORC
RCRCA
RCS
SA
South Africa
TC
Town
UNAM
University of Namibia
UNEP
UNFCCC
Council
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Background information
Developing countries are still undergoing economic development, population growth
and urbanization, and are at the same time expecting rapid and increased amount of
waste generation (Hallaj et al., 2012). Most of the newly proclaimed towns in Namibia
such as Eenhana are still developing and their populations are growing. This results due
to an increased number of investors moving to town from the neighboring villages,
regions and all other parts of the country. Additionally, day to day visitors including
people from neighboring Angola contribute to the increase in waste generated and
increasing major public health and environmental problems, Eenhana Town Council
(ETC, 2012). Shipanga (2013) indicated that about 0.6 kg on average of waste is
generated per rural person in Namibia compared to 3 kg per urban person daily.
Namibia produces about 3000 tons of waste on a daily basis of which 60-80 % are
recyclable (Shipanga, 2013). Such high generation pose problem to the environment if
no best practices are put in place on time.
Albrecht et al. (2007) indicated that protection of human environment enhances
economic development and improves peoples well-being. Well managed waste
contributes to the reduction of risks of diseases outbreak and transmission, injuries and
ensuring public health; thus improving the quality of life for all citizens, Ministry of Health
and Social Service (MHSS, 2010). However, this is possible provided that everyone
especially the community members actively participate and are engaged in ensuring
clean towns and the environment at large. Subash (n.d) defined community participation
as a process that engages community members in waste management related activities
to certain extend and at different stages. Community participation in waste management
forms an important component of sound and sustainable waste management for
sustainable development (Hasheela, 2009).
However, effective waste management requires good collaboration among all relevant
stakeholders. These include the municipalities or town councils (TCs), environmental
1
encouraging
community
recycling
clubs
and
projects
and
integrating
management ranging from technical, financial, poor planning, lack of coordination and
community involvement in waste management among others; but to a lesser extent
have emphasized and outlined practical measures to make people participate in waste
management. Although the role of community participation is known, practical
involvement in waste management is still minimal in most developing countries and
Namibia is not an exception. The question still to be answered is: How can we
encourage community members to participate in waste management at a local level for
effective, reliable and sustainable waste management systems?
1.4 Goal
The goal for this research project was to identify and discuss possible means or
solutions to make or motivate community members to participate in waste management.
From the academic perspective, it is envisaged that this research forms the basis
document for the ETC on which best practices and areas of improvement can be
developed, based on its findings and recommended areas of improvement. This thesis
further forms the basis reference and a starting point for the upcoming environmental
scientists in town and Ohangwena Region at large with interest in the field of waste
management. Furthermore, the study will also help sensitize the community to
understand that waste is a problem and on the other hand to look at waste as a
resource that can contribute towards improving peoples livelihoods. The study will
further contribute to awareness raising so the community can understand and be aware
that their positive and practical participation in waste management is of vital importance.
As a result, the study is contributing to the improvement of unsustainable waste
management
Figure 1. Map of Namibia including the Ohangwena Region, Windhoek and Eenhana Town
Despite the small size of the region of about 10,703.2 km 2 (1.3 %), Ohangwena is the
second largest populated region with about 245,446 inhabitants (11.7 %) and a
population density of 23.0 people per km2. The first populated region is Khomas (where
the capital city Windhoek is located) with 342,141(16.3 %) inhabitants and a population
7
density of 9.2 people per km2 (NPC, 2011). Khomas has a total area of 37,007 km2
(NPC, 2001).
Eenhana is a small town, situated in the Northern Namibia. It serves as the Regional
Administration Capital of the Ohangwena Region. The land covers an area of about 50
km2 of which a third is the township. Eenhana was first declared as a settlement (as
declared under section 31 of the Regional Councils Act, 1992) in 1992, one year after
Namibia gained independence from the South African regime in 1990; and later
proclaimed as a town on the 15th April 1999. ET is one of the fastest growing towns in
Namibia with a current population size of about 24,000 inhabitants (ORC, 2012).
8
However this number is indicated to be increasing due to the inflow of investors from all
over Namibia. ET is within the local governance of ETC and is not yet qualified to be a
municipality because it is still subsidized by the government, and unable to pay all costs
related to the execution of the towns powers and functions out of its own funds, Ministry
of Regional Local Government and Housing (MRLGH, 1992).
At the moment ET has 6 locations of which OB was selected as the pilot site for the
three weeks experiment, based on the reasons that littering and illegal dumping
especially of the garden refuse were more noticed in the location. Moreover the location
is close to Eenhana Multi-Purpose Youth Center (EMPYC) in which the workshops were
scheduled to be held, to make it easier for the community to walk to and from the
workshops after hours to encourage good attendance and facilitate free exchange of
ideas as Squires (2006) supported. Further, OB is the smallest location in town with 100
households and an area size of 52,797,399 m2 (ETC, 2013)
2.2 Methodology
2.2.1 Data collection
The research is mainly a qualitative study. Data were obtained by examining both
secondary and primary sources. Primary sources were collected through field research
which includes interview questions with the TCs officials, field visit to the dump site,
field experiment and observations. Secondary sources include books, journal articles,
published theses, government publications especially the National Waste Management
Policy of Namibia (2010) and various internet sources.
To reach the goal and objectives of the study, detailed interview questions were
discussed with two officials from the Community Services and Public Health Department
of ET to answer mainly question one and two. Question three was mostly answered
through the community workshops and the field experiment. To better understand the
manner in which waste is generated, managed, treated and disposed, observations at
the dump site, formal and informal streets were also considered.
Waste separation
Plastics, bottles
and cans
Yellow bag
Papers and
boxes
Composting
Green bag
85 L bin
Figure 3. Design of the experiment and the assigned tasks in Eenhana Town 2013
10
OB location consists of 100 houses (Fig. 2). A total of 68 houses received the
separation bags. The remaining 32 were either locked or there was no response from
the house. With regard to shopping bags, individuals were requested to obtain shopping
bags by themselves as the experiment was not funded and the TC was not prepared to
carry out such tasks at this point in time. Shopping bags are also not very expensive.
Small bags cost N$17.00 (1.70 ) in the local shops at the present exchange rate.
The green plastic bag was used to sort out papers and the yellow to sort out cans,
bottles and plastics. Papers and boxes were separated alone as they are more sensitive
to moisture and get wet easily, thereby easily lose value for recycling purposes.
Moreover, sorting out papers and boxes into one plastic bag with all other recyclables
may fill the bag faster, which means more plastics need to be provided.
All other
general waste was discarded in the 85 L bin. The green and yellow colors were
specifically used just for the sake of the experiment.
The provided plastic bags were checked or monitored every Monday from 16-18 hour
for three consecutive weeks. Monitoring was done to ensure that the correct fractions
were separated in the correct bags as discussed in the workshop and indicated in the
information pamphlet and whether they were full or not for replacement. Community
members were also informed to notify the TC office in-case the bag got full before the
next monitoring date. Waste types separated in wrong bags were moved to the right
bags before the next monitoring. The waste collectors were reminded not to pick up the
plastic bags until after three weeks because the separated fractions in green and yellow
bag do not smell and also to make it easier to estimate the quantity of waste generated
after three weeks. The 85 L bin was emptied as usual (two times a week)..
Awareness raising
The second workshop was arranged after the experiment to find out what feedback the
community will provide including their experiences, what lessons learnt can be derived,
what more the community requires for further future implementation and which areas
can be improved as Squires, (2006) encouraged. Moreover, the workshop aimed to
discuss few results and problems encountered during the monitoring period.
11
In support of the interview findings, observations, pre and post experiment, community
workshops were arranged with the assistance of the TC (Fig. 4 below). The first
workshop serves as a mean of awareness raising, information dissemination and a
platform to fully explain what the experiment entails, the benefits of the activities to
undertake and why the community should participate. To achieve this, a presentation
was prepared. The main discussion points were the introduction of the ideas to separate
waste from the generation point, means to reduce waste with emphasis on the use of
shopping bags to reduce plastic bags, ways to reuse generated waste and possibilities
to compost the garden refuse for reuse as a fertilizer. Since the use of plastic bags is
not banned in Namibia, the community was asked to voluntarily use shopping bags but
not prohibited to pick plastic bags. If plastics are to be prohibited this requires the review
of the present environmental policies.
Thirty minutes prior to the workshop people were again reminded via the loud speaker
while driving around the streets of OB location. Children especially learners and
students were encouraged to attend since most of the times only elders turn up for
workshops but implementation lies also in the childrens hands that are frequently
tasked to discard the waste. Therefore, it was agreed that children should attend waste
management related workshops not only to carry out tasks and to remind parents on
what is expected but to also use these chances as learning opportunities. Before the
workshop came to an end, a committee of 6 volunteers (Fig. 5) was organized (other 3
were assistant workshop facilitators). The main aims were to assist with the distribution
of plastics and the information leaflets as well as conduct weekly monitoring.
Apart from that, the information pamphlet was designed for awareness raising purposes
(appendix 2). The main contents of the pamphlet were to introduce and discuss the
ideas and significance of waste separation from the point source, discuss ways on how
the community can contribute to the reduction of waste quantities and to remind the
community on the issue of littering and illegal waste dumping in the location and town at
large. Moreover, the pamphlet called for the community to collaborate with the TC by
reporting illegal waste dumping. It also included the procedures to be followed if such
offences are being repeated.
12
Figure 5. Mini experiment volunteered committee and other participants, (Lepaleni, 2013)
13
this, Shipanga (2013) indicated 0.6 kg on average of waste generated per rural person
to 3 kg per urban person daily. General waste quantities are expected to increase by
2.5 % per annum. United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) (2012) reported that
about 1.3 billion tons of municipal waste is generated globally each year and volumes
are expected to increase to 2.2 billion tons by 2025. Faster population growth, economic
development through industrialization and urbanization in developed countries are
producing and increasing waste quantities, while low-income countries are more prone
to threats from poor waste management (UNEP, 2012). Further, UNEP mentioned that
public waste systems in cities cannot keep up with the pace of urban expansion and
rapid industrialization is happening in countries that have not yet developed appropriate
systems especially to deal with waste and more especially hazardous waste.
It is important that the nations do not just see waste as a problem but to some extent as
an opportunity to recover useful products through recycling (Yanna, 2013). UNEP
(2012) pointed out that if waste is to be properly handled, waste management can have
a huge potential in turning the problems into solutions, consequently paving a way
towards sustainable development. This results due to proper and efficient recovery and
reuse of valuable resources, energy production, reduced emissions of greenhouse
gases from landfills and dump sites, creation of new business and employment
opportunities especially for the informal sector (UNEP, 2012).
The literature review has looked at waste management in general, the specific
examples of problems with unmanaged waste such as papers and plastics, the
stakeholders and challenges or constraints in waste management and finally community
participation or involvement in waste management including their role and benefits
perceived at a local level in waste management.
management is one of the most complex and cost-intensive public services which
requires large municipal budgets even when organized and properly operated.
According to the RCRA (2011), proper waste management not only reduces the
quantity of waste generated but to a larger extent ensures that waste is managed in an
environmentally sound manner, which involves practicable steps that protect both
human health and the environment.
Moreover, effective waste management also reduces the risks of waste collectors or
handlers of a particular community. Improper waste disposal and poor waste collection
may lead to serious health implications, serious economic and environmental problems
mainly air, land and water (UNEP, 2012). UNEP further discussed that a combination of
hazardous with the households waste because of lack of knowledge on point separation
for instance pose extreme harmful effects for people in the waste management sector
and the communities.
Solid waste collection is inadequate in developing countries, leaving long standing
waste and uncollected in streets, dumped in open areas and burnt in the open air
(Cheo, 2010; Joseph and Nagendran, 2007). Municipal solid waste management
systems involve waste collection, transportation and disposal. Other options of resource
recovery through recycling and reprocessing are still minimal and require consideration
(Cheo, 2010). Achankeng (2003) cited in Cheo (2010) discussed some different
collection systems used in developing countries which include pre-collection, door-todoor and fixed point collection. Pre-collection is the transportation of waste from
generation points, mostly by children to municipal waste bins. Door-to-door collection is
the waste collection by the responsible town council or municipality waste trucks that
empty the bins while fixed point collection operates at a particular fixed days, time and
frequency (schedule) at the most accessible fixed point. Town councils or municipalities
that employ fixed point method have schedules which depend on the popularity and
accessibility of the area (Achankeng 2003, in Cheo, 2010).
The Windhoek Municipality (2011) discussed three main principles of waste
management as: the integrated waste management hierarchy, the polluter pays
principle and the duty of care. The waste management hierarchy can be implemented
16
The polluter pays principle on the other hand calls for every people who generate waste
to bear the responsibility of the cost of waste movement and the rehabilitation of the
17
environment as a result of such waste. The CoW (2010) encourages for measures to
ensure the polluter pays for any environment or public health and required remediation
measures in-case of illegal disposal. The duty of care calls for people who generate
waste to be responsible for proper handling, transportation and disposal of their waste
and by no mean is to be dumped illegally (Windhoek Municipality, 2011).
20
CoW, 2010). Securing funds will promote community involvement, making community
services less dependent on donor funding (Muller and Laroui, 2000).
3.5.3 Limited research institutions and staffs
Adequate academic and research institutions provide a better platform for community
empowerment. Hence more research and trainings are of vital importance towards
sustainable waste management. Capacity building through training of officials on waste
management will enable staffs to carry out and implement the requirements of waste
management policy and divisions effectively (CoW, 2010). High staff turnovers,
inadequate number of staff and low expertise in waste management are major problems
hindering the successful implementation of tasks and waste management related
projects efficiently (MHSS, 2010).
Not only that, Joseph and Nagendran (2007) discussed that most solid waste
management officers especially at the local level have little or no technical know-how for
designing, operating, maintaining, and monitoring in management, which is essential for
the sustainability of solid waste management divisions, projects and other related
initiatives. Furthermore, it is important that waste management departments employ
sufficient and well capacitated technical and administrative number of staffs if effective
waste management is to be ensured (Joseph and Nagendran, 2007).
3.5.4 Social issues
Other constraints in waste management include the social factors such as peoples
social behaviors which also influence the quantities and composition of waste being
generated. Joseph and Nagendran (2007) added that in developing countries, effective
waste management systems require a balancing of social progress that recognizes
everyone's needs, effective environmental protection, and maintenance of high and
stable levels of economic growth, employment creation and sustainable use of natural
resources.
Joseph and Nagendran (2007) further pointed out that despite the ideal waste
management hierarchy (Fig. 6), poor waste management activities such as
irresponsible behaviors of illegal dumping, littering, waste burning without taking
21
measures to control the air and water pollution, scavenging at dump sites and negative
health impacts for the people in close proximity still persist (Eco Award Namibia, 2005).
Other constraints include the average level and sources of income, the demographics
e.g. population, industrial production and the existence of markets for waste materials in
a particular area (CoW, 2010).
annual plans and implement successfully the activities and utilize the allocated budget
wisely. Joseph and Nagendran (2007) supported that a lack of capacity building,
awareness creation through community participation in waste management are some of
the issues hindering the successful implementation and sustainable waste management
measures especially at the grassroots level. Sikabongo (2010) indicated that keeping
the community informed is an important component of public accountability to be
satisfied by municipal authorities. Joseph and Nagendran (2007) further argued that
peoples participation especially those at the grassroots level form an important
component for successful waste management despite limited or low awareness raising,
and low expertise in waste related fields. Therefore, public education and awareness
creation programs need to be intensified (Joseph and Nagendran, 2007).
Apart from that, good cooperation between people at the local level, private sector and
the town councils makes it easier for the adaption and successful implementation of
waste related policies such as of setting payment rates for service charges. Therefore, it
is important that waste managers do not just concentrate on the top down but a bottom
up approach need to be prioritized and people be given control over operation and
waste management. The active involvement and participation of communities during the
initiation, planning and implementation of waste management services will be essential
in order to promote and ensure the programs sustainability. Additionally, effective
community involvement in waste management acts as an empowerment of community
members of the particular area (Joseph and Nagendran 2007). The CoW (2010)
indicated that lack of public awareness and school education on the importance of
effective waste management which is necessary for environmental health and wellbeing of people severely restricts the use of community-based approaches.
3.6.1 How do communities participate in waste management?
Community members participation takes different forms ranging from source
separation, collection to central fixed points to clearing ways for the waste collection
vehicles especially compacting tractors to name a few. Community members start
separating waste from the point source (their houses or business) as they discard
recyclables in the recyclable bins and organics in the respective organic containers.
23
Source separation encourages residents to reuse and recycle household waste and
promote job creation through facilitating the exchange of money in return of well
separated recyclable waste (Windhoek Municipality, 2011). As a result, collection
frequency is minimized because less waste is available for disposal; contributing to
reduction of greenhouse gases due to the reduction in burned fuel from collection
vehicles (RCRA, 2010).
The CoW in collaboration with NGOs of Enviro-Fill Namibia and Rent-A-Drum has
introduced a Clear Bag system project in Windhoek as a way of engaging community
members in waste management especially in waste separation from point source. They
distributed clear bags for collecting recyclable materials at the household and corporate
levels. The residents participate in recycling simply by separating the recyclables in the
provided clear bag which is placed next to the green wheelie bin. With time these
residents will realize a significant reduction in the waste stored in the wheelie bin. In
future residents may be able to request for the replacement of the 240 L wheelie bin
with a smaller 130 L wheelie bin and pay a reduced rate for refuse removal on a
monthly basis (CoW, 2010). The number of clear bags collected was recorded to be
increasing year by year which indicates how fast the community can adapt waste
management initiatives. A number of 22 000 clear bags were collected by January 2012
from households and 600 bags were collected from body corporates monthly. By 2013
these numbers increased to 26 000 and 2 000 clear bags respectively (Yanna, 2013).
Waste oriented community will avoid illegal dumping by discarding garbage in a proper
way. Moreover, littering will be minimal as pedestrians discard waste in the correct bag
or bin provided. Not only that, the community can be offering waste to a relevant service
provider at the right place and time to reduces collection time (duration), cut on overall
fuel costs and ensures efficient collection (Subash, 2010). Subash (2010) further
suggested that it is necessary that in case of a community waste management project
the municipalities or town councils allow community members to be part of the
committee. This increases their level of accountability and by so doing increase their
active participation.
24
26
Chapter 4: Results
4.1 General waste management in Eenhana Town
Research question 1: How is waste being managed in Eenhana Town?
ET though recently proclaimed and fast growing has put in place various waste
management measures. These include the draft of the waste management policy and
dump site plan, provision of waste storage containers, contracting local people as waste
collectors including litter pickers, establishment of a dump site and organizing voluntary
monthly cleaning campaigns for the community to participate.
ETC provides different containers at different collection points. General containers are
those suitable for the collection and storage of general waste, while special containers
are additional ones designed for extra storage and collection for either waste generated
in larger quantity, hazardous or medical waste.
Table 1: Collection points, frequency and containers for the various collection categories in
Eenhana Town (ETC, 2013)
Collection
Category
Formal Residential
Formal Business
premises
Open-Market
NDC Complex
GRN Institutions
Pre-School Centres
Primary Schools
Secondary Schools
Colleges
Medical Clinics
Hospitals
Number of
collection
points
Type of general
containers
Type of special
containers
Required
collection
frequency
599
85 L/refuse bins
2/week
78
2
2
20
3
3
1
1
3
210 L/drums
210 L/drums
85 L/refuse bins
240 L/wheel bins
210 L/drums
210 L/drums
90 L /drums
240 L/wheel bins
210 L/drums
90 L /drums
210 L/drums
27
3/week
3/week
3/week
2/week
2/week
2/week
2/week
2/week
5/week
5/week
2/week
ET is divided into formal and informal areas of which waste collection frequency differs
and ranges between two times minimum to five times per week maximum as shown in
table one. All hospital waste (excluding medical and other hazardous waste) are
collected by the same local contractors (Fig. 9) and disposed at the dump site. Medical
waste is incinerated at the hospital.
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Wheel bins
Skip
Drums
Refuse bins
Size (L)
Quantity
Figure 7. Type, size (liters) and quantity of bins at formal areas in Eenhana Town, 2013
Refuse bins and drums are more in town with 599 and 120 containers at formal areas
respectively while wheel bins and skip containers are very countable at 50 and 15 bins
respectively as shown in figure 7.
30%
30%
Commecial
Schools
Residentials
25%
15%
Hospital
Figure 8. Estimated quantity of waste generated (%) in different sectors of Eenhana Town, 2013
The commercial and the hospital sectors are estimated to produce equal volume of
waste of 30 %, followed by the residential (25) and the least is the school sector with 15
28
%. Waste volume in ET is not recorded. Hence, figure 8 presents only the approximate
quantity as approximated by the TC interviewed officials.
Kuumeketu
Cleaning
Services
Kale
Cleaning
Services
Wilco
Recycling
&
Unity
Trading cc
Formal
areas
Informal
areas
Dump site
Litter
pickers
Streets
ETC
Entire
town
Community
Household
& streets
Figure 9. Service providers (above) and point of operation (below) in Eenhana Town, 2013
There are two local contractors in ET responsible for waste collection and disposal,
namely: Kuumeketu and Kale Cleaning services. Kuumeketu collects waste from the
formal areas (both business and residential) while Kale collects from the informal areas.
Wilco Recycling and Unity trading enterprise operate at the dumpsite to separate and
landfill waste respectively as shown in figure 9. Separated waste includes cans, boxes
or cartons and bottles (glasses and plastics) as shown in figure 9. Other papers and
plastics are landfilled with other general waste. Litter pickers are employed and form
part of the local contractors as one of the contract requirement (1M. Asser, personal
communication, 24.07.2013). Each contractor employs 6 litter pickers totaling 12. The
community is responsible to keep their houses, yards and streets clean. ET is the
coordinating body responsible for overall waste management in town and for disposing
illegal dumped waste, collecting garden waste and building rubbles upon request.
Martha Asser is the Senior Environmental Health Inspector for the Eenhana town.
29
Cost (N$)
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Skip
containers
Illegal
dumping
Building
Domestic
rubbles
Collection type
Garden refuse
Figure 10. Costs of different waste collection types in Eenhana Town, 2013, N$1.00:0.10
Different collections carried out in town have different prices allocated as figure 10
indicated. Skip containers are highly charged with N$600.00 and illegal dumping is
charged N$ 300.00 per removal. The least charged is the garden refuse removal with
N$15.00 per month or upon request as figure 10 displayed. N$1.00 is equivalent to
about 0.10 .
Figure 11 and 12 below describe the way in which waste is handled in ET from the
generation points all over town until the final disposal. Recycling centers in Namibia
mainly do only pre-recycling such as compacting and final production is done in South
Africa (located at the Southern border of Namibia).
Households,
Business, Hospital,
streets
Avoid
Plastics
& papers
Reccycle
Burned
Landfilled
Transported to SA (recycling)
Figure 11. Waste handling from collection until disposal. Circles is the recommended pathway
30
Collected waste is transported to the dump site where Wilco recycling services
separates the recyclables of interest and the rest is landfilled. Recyclables of cans,
boxes and bottles are transported to Ondangwa and later to SA for recycling (fig.11).
2
Figure 12. Dumpsite excavated pits (1) and the newly dumped waste (2) before landfilling,
(Lepaleni, 2013)
The dump site is divided into two parts as shown in figure 12. The excavation area with
open pits (picture 1) and the dumping side where waste collected from town is dumped
temporally before landfilling. In case there is no contractor to landfill, waste accumulates
to such an extent that there is no space for the next tractor load, under which waste is
burned to create space for the next load (fig.12 (2)). The pits are created when the
constructors need soil for construction purposes. The Unity trading digs the pits and
sells the soil at about N$65.00 (6.5 ) per m3. The TC does not have to pay the
contractor any longer in monetary terms. The pits are then filled with the remained
general waste including papers and plastics, building rubbles and garden waste among
others.
31
1. Plastics Re-use
Shopping bags
Covering books
Artifacts
School bags
2. Avoid generation
Use shopping
bags
Carry in hand
small quantities
Figure 13. Plastic re-use by members (1) and means to avoid generation by Lepaleni (2)
The community pointed out that plastics can be re-used for several means in town e.g.
for school bags and book covers especially by the primary school learners, for arts and
crafts by the learners doing art subjects and as shopping bags by everyone. Although
being re-used plastics still end up in the environment. Thus a green pathway to solve
the problem is to avoid and reduce generating waste as figure 13 described.
32
Littering
Solutions to mitigate by TC
Pamphlet publication
Illegal dumping
Organized
monthly
cleaning campaigns
Employ litter pickers
Revisited methods of
inviting people e.g. use
of loud speaker
Provide rewards to
participants
Nothing in place
Nothing in place
Nothing in place
33
Recommended solutions
by
Lepaleni
Public education and training on
WM by:
Organizing workshops
Produce more pamphlets
Establish school clubs
Public notices on littering
Sufficient
distribution
of
dustbins
Employ local people to keep
an eye on daily litters
Fine individuals littering
Encourage
children
to
participate in campaigns
Enhance
communication
with stakeholders
Organize
competitions
between different groups
participating
Task schools, line ministries,
business and NGOs to do
cleaning campaigns
Employ specific individuals
to keep an eye on this
Develop and implement
strategies to reduce illegal
dumping e.g. punishment by
fine e.g. pay cash or
increase monthly bill for the
offender
Enhanced
cooperation
through
participatory
workshops
TC to organize social events
&
allow
community
participation
TC to develop incentive
measures for reporting WM
issues e.g. presents of any
kind
TC should employ more
staffs with relevant expertise
Give in service trainings
Take in interns from high
educational institutions
Raise awareness on the
dump site
Fence to be repaired
Plan to put up a path
way outside the dump
site
Nothing in place
Collection on a
monthly a basis or
upon request
Composting in the
TC garden
risks
being
faced
by
scavengers
Provide 24 Hour security
Collaborate
with
the
community to report such
behaviors
Engage scavengers in all
activities
Provide 24 Hour security
Collaborate
with
the
community to report on
cases of vandalism
Punish
the
identified
individuals
Advice on measures to
minimize waste generation
e.g.
adapting
use
of
shopping bags
Re use of these waste
Advice
Wilco
to
start
recycling papers and plastics
Initiate recycling groups
Establish recycling NGOs
TC enter in agreement with
shop owners to sell plastics
Advice on small scale
household composting
Small scale biogas plant
34
Workshop recommendations
Figure 14. Possible means on how to make people participate in waste management
35
Financial
Incentives
Logistical
Means of invitations
Travelling refunds
Social
Presents
Meals
Education and trainings
Tangible community benefits
Improved WM services
36
Number of people
attended the
workshops
management, OB location
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
18/4/13
16/5/13
Date
Figure 16. Number of participants: first and second workshops, (EMPYC), 2013
A total of 29 people attended the first community workshop of which 26 are community
members from the OB location, 2 were officials from the TC and a town Councilor
responsible for environmental protection. A lower number of 25 total participants were
recorded during the second workshop of which 21 were community members, 3 were
officials from the TC and again the same Councilor as in figure 16. The first workshop
Number of households
carried out the tasks,
represented at the 2nd
workshop
lasted for three hours while the second for two and half hours.
25
20
15
10
5
0
Waste separation
Shopping bags
Activity
Composting
Figure 17. Number of households represented at the last workshop and carried out tasks
OB location has a total of 100 households of which 68 received the separation bags.
During monitoring a total of 68 houses were monitored and have done the separation
although not all were open for all three weeks during the monitoring period. Even
though 68 households received the bags, only 20 households carried out waste
separation, 7 got themselves shopping bags and 5 started with composting as shown in
37
figure 17. All 21 participants indicated to like the initiatives of waste separation,
shopping bags as a mean of waste reduction and composting of garden refuse. All
participants further indicated that the ideas will work and are willing to continue and
strongly recommended the TC to proceed with the initiatives without any delay.
Waste separation
Approx.waste fractions , MW 1, Yellow bag
6%
Plastics
11%
Cans
47%
Plastic bottles
30%
Papers &
boxes
21%
79%
Glass bottles
Mixes
Mixes
6%
MW 2
9%
MW 2
Plastics
6%
15%
Cans
Papers &
Bottles
Plastic bottle
48%
30%
Glass bottle
Mixes
85%
Mixes
7%
MW 3
MW 3
9% 3%
31%
49%
10%
Plastics
Cans
Plastic bottles
Glass bottles
8%
Papers &
boxes
90%
Mixes
Mixes
Figure 18. An approximate quantity of waste separated in 3 weeks at OB. Mixes is the quantity
of wrong separation. MW: Monitoring week
The quantity of plastics and cans increased by 1 %, while plastic bottles and mixes
fractions remain the same at 30 and 6 % respectively during monitoring week 2.
However glass bottles decreased by 2 %. During the third monitoring, plastics and
plastic bottles increased with 1 %, glass bottles remains at 9 % while the mixed fraction
decreased by 3 %. With the green plastic bag; papers and boxes quantities have been
38
increasing from week 1 until the last monitoring week from 79, 85 and 90 %
respectively. Mixed fraction decreased throughout from 21, 15 and 10 %. Note that not
all houses were open during monitoring time for all three consecutive weeks. Mixes
fraction were mainly papers in a yellow bag and plastics in a green bag.
Use of shopping bags
During the last workshop members mainly raised challenges and recommendations
after the mini experiment with regard to the use of shopping bags as shown in table 3.
There was no challenge raised on composting, rather a remark that they just started,
but did not yield a tangible result yet. With waste separation provision of more plastic
bags was recommended.
Table 3. Identified challenges and solutions through workshops with regard to the use of
shopping bags
Challenges in the use What the community should What TC & Businesses
of shopping bags
do
should do
Forgot at home or in
Develop a habit of
TC to organize more
another car
carrying shopping bags at
educational workshops
all times
TC to extend the idea to
Always put your bag at a
other parts of town
place where it is visible
Financial/affordability
Recycle old cloths to
TC to give shopping
make own shopping bags
bags
free
to
the
community
Organize itself into small
groups to come up with
TC to negotiate with
sewing
initiatives
for
business owners to raise
shopping bags
funds for shopping bags
TC to subsidize the bags
Some people still do not
Teach
others
the
TC to include WM in its
understand why using
necessity to use shopping
yearly
plans
and
shopping bags
bags
educational programs
Encourage
others
to
TC to secure sufficient
attend workshops
funds for all activities
All community members
Sensitize all businesses
should always feel free to
in environmental healthy
visit the TC office for
aspects
queries
&
further
information
Small size
Buy an extra big bag or more
Business to replace with
than one bag
a large size
39
Chapter 5: Discussion
5.1 Waste management in Eenhana Town
Research question 1: How is waste being managed in ET?
5.1.1 Waste collection and containers
As part of the waste management hierarchy, the three Rs of Reducing, Reusing and
Recycling of waste are very important in waste management. Three Rs cut on the
quantity of waste produced and discarded into the environment on a daily basis. ET is
divided into formal and informal areas. Formal areas have modernized houses in which
services such as water, electricity and sewage collection are maintained by the TC.
Informal areas on the other hand are comprised of shacks with mainly corrugated iron
sheet, but there are also some brick houses. Although some residential areas fall under
formal areas, collection frequencies differ with the commercial and hospital areas
because the quantity and type of waste generated differs.
Formal areas of Eenhana Town
Waste containers are provided by the TC, however business and formal residential
owners have to apply for the type of waste bin they prefer. For commercial areas the TC
has to approve the bin applied for based on the result of public health monitoring.
Environmental health monitoring is conducted by the TC before the business starts to
operate to ensure that the requested bin suits the type of business proposed before
operation. Skip containers are observed to be very few (15) and countable (Fig.7) in
town (because they are provided only at strategic points based on the size of the
business and type of waste generated. It is only a few business owners that apply for
skip containers. For a complex the owner applies for a skip container that all businesses
within the complex have to share; the TC then charges the complex owner. An
agreement on how and how much each renting shop within the complex has to pay is
made between the complex owner and the individual businesses. The TC charges a
monthly fee of N$600.00 (60.00 ) (Fig.10) for every skip collection.
40
With regard to collection, there are times during which business waste collection is done
more than two times a day especially with the skip container. This occurs occasionally
and mainly if the business received stock during which it produces a lot of cartons and
plastics. Households in formal residential areas are requested to discard every waste in
the 85 L bins which are collected two times a week (table 1); except garden refuse
which is moved in front of the house yard. The problem the TC raised in the workshop is
that the community mixes the garden refuse with other recyclables such as papers and
plastics, making it difficult to handle. The 85 L bins provided make it impossible for the
households to do any point source separation since only one bin is provided per
households. Moreover, it is made difficult for most community members to practice and
adapt the separation idea because they found it easier to simply dump all waste in one
container without making an effort to sort out different fractions in different containers.
Apart from that, the community members expressed dissatisfaction on the days the 85 L
bins are collected. At the moment the bins are collected Tuesdays and Thursdays per
week, leaving only one day in between. The members strongly recommended that the
days be reviewed. This will allow enough time for more waste to be generated before
the next collection. The community suggested that collectors can collect the bins on
Mondays and Thursdays. Mondays as members have accumulated waste in the
weekend, and Thursdays as people are facing the weekend and expecting waste
generation to increase. Taking into consideration these days will help the residents not
to reach the weekend with un-emptied containers which may smell and create
uncomfortable environment.
Hospital waste on the other hand is collected on a daily basis and special containers
such as plastic bags and 90 L bins are provided. This results because Eenhana is a
state hospital and it accommodates a lot of people including Namibians and Angolans
due to limited healthy facilities. This supports the point that the hospital street of Sam
Nuuyoma Drive (where the hospital is located) is always busy and so as littering ( 2M.
Martha Asser is the Senior Environmental Health Inspector for the ETC.
41
Asser, personal communication, 05.04.2013). Under worse cases this forces the TC to
arrange for extra hours for litter pickers to clean the street two times a day.
The pole bins and street drums located in the formal area are meant for pedestrians.
This helps to ensure that pedestrians do not directly throw or discard waste on the
environment even at places where bins are provided (Hasheela, 2009). However, it is
observed that some people still do litter even at areas where the bin is less than four
meters from his point source. Cases like these result because of irresponsible behaviors
of ignorance and negligence or to some extent that the particular individual simply does
not understand why such bins are provided in town. Behaviors of this nature cause day
to day visitors to take home a bad image of the town. Joseph and Nagendran (2007)
also opposed irresponsible behaviors and encouraged community improvement. The
TC mentioned that the town receives many day to day visitors and indicated to be the
most ones responsible for littering. This means people especially from Angola and
neighboring villages do not understand because such structures are not yet being
developed from the areas of origin.
Several investors are flowing in town applying for plots for either residential or business
purposes; terms and conditions apply to each. Extensive constructions at this time pose
a challenge to the TC because it has to make sure that building rubbles are properly
maintained by collecting them even not during collection days. A fee of N$270.00 (27.00
) is charged per load (see Fig.10).
Informal areas of Eenhana Town
Though informal areas are provided with street drums (table 1) of which they do not
apply for unlike the formal areas, these are not sufficient because drums accommodate
a lot of houses (more than four in one). Every household simply dump waste in the
nearest bin. Some street drums can be full already before the collection date, leaving
the community with no option but to dispose waste on the ground (Fig. 19 below).
Chickens and dogs use this opportunity to mess up the waste, giving more time for the
waste collectors to first clean up before emptying the container, consequently reducing
the collection efficiency as Asong (2010) and Hasheela (2009) supported.
42
Figure 19. Full street drum at Tulipamwe informal location in Eenhana Town, (Lepaleni, 2013)
the dump site. He has to make sure that all waste is landfilled at the right time,
compacted to create more space, illegal waste dumping especially of building rubbles is
avoided, scavenging and vandalism is minimized if not prevented.
Figure 20. Wilco recycling separating waste at the dump site in Eenhana Town, (Lepaleni, 2013)
At times when there is no contracted agent to landfill the waste as contract renewal
depends on the progress, waste collectors opt to burn waste in order to make space for
the new disposal (off loadings) though not recommended. With ongoing discussions on
efforts to deal with climate change and finding ways to minimize air pollution, burning of
waste poses another problem because it emits CO2 (RCRA, 2011). Moreover, waste
burning negatively affects the health of people in proximity as they have to inhale smoke
which contains toxins; leading to cancer and other breathing difficulties in future (Eco
Award Namibia, 2005). Forbid (2012) supported that direct burning of plastics for
instance produce poisonous gases and smell which may heavily affect people in town,
nearest villages, nation and the entire globe (see section 3.3).
It can clearly be pointed out that it is time for Namibia at large to concentrate on
establishing recycling centers in the country and not only pre-recycle (mainly compact
and bale waste for transportation purposes) and to rely more on SA for recycling
purposes yet it is Namibia to bear the transport cost as supported by Yanna (2013) and
44
18.07.2013) supported the same point that Namibia transports various commodities like
paper, glass, plastics, cans to name a few to different factories in SA. Glasses for
example go to Consol Company and these factories make new products for production.
Transport cost is indicated to be high as it takes up all the profit the company made.
That is why pre-recycling companies in Namibia have to compact and bale the waste to
increase tonnage and load one interlink truck with 38 tons (R. Louw, 18.07.2013,
personal communication).
5.1.3 Reduce and Re-use of waste in Eenhana Town
In case of ET waste reduction is of an advantage as it ensures that the TC has also
some time to use the space at the dump site while they are getting all necessary
requirements to upgrade the dump site. Reduction in organics at the dump site reduces
production of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as methane (CH4), enhance
environmental protection and extends the lifespan of the dump site as less waste
quantity is produced and disposed as (UNEP, 2012 and RCRA, 2011).
Plastics though said to pose a great environmental problem there are still possible and
useful means to reuse (Fig.13) (Eco Award Namibia, 2005). Waste reduction is a priority
as reported by the RCRA (2011) because it conserves natural resources and at the
same time reduces the quantity of waste generated. Since nothing is done yet on
recycling of papers and plastics in Eenhana, the discussion focused more on how the
community can contribute to the reduction of waste quantity.
Some plastics are mentioned to be strong which make them better for reuse. Plastics
and papers such as newspapers and magazines are indicated to be re-used at schools
as covers for learners books. Plastics are also used as school bags though not allowed,
but a matter of no choice. Parents will then have to save little money especially the low
income ones as they no longer buy covers for their children. However, re-using plastics
45
as school bags is not a sustainable way because some plastics get torn easily and do
not last long. A plastic bag cannot be used for a week as a school bag. In addition,
plastics are reused by learners taking art classes to produce decoration materials and
toys (Eco Award Namibia, 2005). Nonetheless, using plastics for artistic purposes is
also not a solution because not all (in terms of quantity) plastics generated in town can
be reused for the same purpose. In houses plastics are reused to keep goods such as
meat and flour in freezers and for wrapping presents for visitors. Above all, these are
just options but at some point the reused plastics are yet to be discarded in the
environment because plastics get torn and wear out easily, resulting in environmental
pollution. For glass and plastic bottles or containers it is necessary that the community
start re-using the bottle containers that can be washed and re-used for water or any
other beverages for two or more times before finally discarded. This makes it easier
especially for learners that carry drinks with to school. However this is possible and
much easier if separation is practiced from point source correctly.
With regard to food waste, the community has a normal practice of reusing food waste
by feeding them to street dogs. People hardly discard or accumulate food waste in
dustbins unless under conditions where dogs fail to eat up all (which rarely occurs).
Though this is seen as a way of reducing food waste the TC indicated that dogs and
cats are not allowed in town. Moreover the TC has an agreement with local shops
where food remains are generated. The TC collects food waste to feed the pigs and
chickens at the community garden (Fig. 21 below). Eco Award Namibia (2005)
supported the same idea of feeding kitchen waste to local animals.
Although called a garden and being recently established, it was observed that only
chickens, pigs and goats are present and no plant is grown yet. The TC and the
community still need to do more by growing fruit trees, flowers and vegetables to sell to
the local consumers. A good progress of the garden will reduce organic waste ending
up at the dump site, reduces smell, and encourages community members to take
ownership of the garden and improving theirs skills as Sikabongo (2010) supported.
46
Figure 21. Newly established community ''garden'' kraal in Eenhana Town, (Lepaleni, 2013)
The community can also reduce the generation of food waste by buying only enough
perishable food for their families (Fig.13). This avoids food to accumulate in houses and
get spoiled before consumption. Cooking only enough food that the family can consume
in a day is also another option and not to discard food in the bin. Such practices are not
only beneficial to the environment but to the particular individual too because one can at
the same time save money that can be invested in other items. Therefore, it is worth
noting that the best way to reduce waste generation is to avoid its generation (Fig 6).
ensured provided financial means are secured. ET does not have compacting tractors
and excavators to name a few at the moment because they are expensive and the
present budget cannot accommodate them. Hence, the TC ends up contracting local
business people with the required machineries. Even though the TC has to pay waste
collectors from its budget, the good thing developed as one way to cut on costs, secure
and utilize funds for intended purposes is a mean of payment in kind with the Unity
Trading Enterprise. Unity Trading does landfilling and waste compacting at the dump
site and gets paid by charging the constructors or builders an amount of N$65.00 (6.50
) per truck of building sand sold.
It is realized that most of the solutions to several challenges (as identified on table 2
require that the TC has sufficient funds and budget in place (see also table 6.1). To
support financial means generation, the TC can adjust the present bills such as
collection bills together with the community, but providing for instance extra cheaper
plastic bags for separation and aid in community recycling projects development. The
TC can also apply for donations from the private sector e.g. the local businesses and
banks. Furthermore, income generating activities such as waste separation and
recycling groups like the cooperatives (Fig. 25) should be developed. Cooperatives form
an important mean to socio-economic developments. Cooperatives form a mean of
business which provides employment, reducing poverty and hunger. Establishment of
cooperatives have further advantages beside any other community group which include:
enabling members to access funds (loans), benefit in terms of discounts, pool
knowledge and resources, produce and supply quality products and services to the
markets. The government created a cooperative loan guarantee fund which enables
cooperatives without collaterals to access loans from local banks (Rundu, 2012; Make
use of cooperative, 2013). The fund serves also as a mean of incentive to encourage
establishment of community groups.
Therefore, increasing awareness and motivating the community to collaborate and
participate fully in all WM activities can be beneficial in a way that the TC will no longer
for example contract a waste separator like Wilco Recycling; will contract one waste
collector and reduce on the number of waste pickers. By so doing the TC will cut on the
48
budget spend and save money to invest in other necessary equipment, projects and
community programs, or cut on water and electricity bills which may also serve as an
incentive for the community. This forms one example of efficient use of the budget as
Hasheela, (2009) and the CoW, (2010) encouraged. Though the TC can put in place
various measures to secure funds, expensive developmental activities such as
upgrading of the dump site and biogas plant for instance require larger amount. Hence
international collaborations and funds (e.g. Harelbeke city incase of ET) cannot be
ignored at this point in time. Therefore, the TC needs to maximize its efforts to secure
funds and reduce heavy dependence on the available budget.
5.2.2 Littering and illegal dumping
Littering is one of the challenges highlighted by the TC which results due to the
unavailability of proper control methods in place and the lack of awareness. Through
observations and informal chats, a few residents observed littering indicated that they
are creating jobs for the litter pickers because that is what they are being paid for as
one of them put it what will they do if we do not litter? No litter no job. Another resident
mentioned that he is creating jobs to the TC because that is what they are supposed to
do. Such behaviors need to be improved but requires commitment and good
cooperation between the service providers and the community. That is why awareness
and capacity building programs need to be developed and be intensified (Hasheela,
2009; MHSS, 2010).
Apart from that, presence of shrubs and grasses especially during autumn (at which the
study was conducted) were observed in town and form a good habitat where discarded
plastics, papers and cans get trapped. Situations like these increase the risks of
diseases such as Malaria due to favorable mosquitoes breading sites created. It also
forms habitats for snakes which pose danger to pedestrians. Hence necessary that
shrubs are kept short and free of litter.
It is also required that the TC provides or ensure that waste bins are sufficient and
distributed all over the town. This makes it easier for people to discard waste in the bins
instead of throwing it in the environment. People might throw away waste because they
have nowhere to carry that particular waste for longer distance. If they do, it makes one
49
uncomfortable and people looking at you might wonder. It is therefore important that TC
encourages individuals not to be the first to litter and to report all cases of this nature.
5.2.3 Limited staff members
At the moment ET has a division of Community Services and Public Health under which
the waste management falls. The division has two staff members: a Senior
Environmental Health Inspector and her assistant who was recently recruited January
2013. These staff members do not only execute waste management related tasks in
town such as monitoring and supervising contractors, attend to waste related matters,
do investigations to ensure the town is free of litter, day to day town monitoring and
ensure that the communities are provided with dustbins to name a few, but do also carry
out public health jobs such as health inspection of businesses and offering fitness
certificates. At a level of a busy town like Eenhana such tasks one cannot sufficiently
accomplish on a daily basis because this is also influenced by the current demand,
number of clients that the office is receiving as well as the number of field related jobs
that need to be attended to. Thus the national waste management policy by the MHSS
(2010) is calling for sufficient staff members for successful implementation of tasks.
From observations many clients do visit the office looking for assistance but 90 % of
them have to go back unattended to because most of the times staffs responsible are
not in office for one reason or another. Phone calls keep coming in and only a few ones
are being attended to on that very time. Cases like these are discouraging and are
affecting the efficiency and reputation of the department and TC at large. It further
waste the clients time and energy especially those that have to walk to office
sometimes more than two times a day either on foot or by vehicle none is cost effective.
This reduces peoples achievements and productivity of the day.
It is very important that enough staff members be employed for effective waste
management so that when some staffs are out there are others in office to help the
clients and do other office related jobs such as report writing, attending to emails and
phone calls. Moreover, sufficient staffs will avoid workers not to work under pressure
and stress as this may causes health risks and make staffs not to enjoy the job. It
should also be noted that high staff turnover is not an option and the TC should
50
day behaviors e.g. of not using plastic bags for carrying purposes and adapt the use of
shopping bags which can be washed and reused again for the same purpose.
Irresponsible plastic packaging is more in town where the cashier packs the customers
goods in plastics or the customer packs himself irrespective of the type and quantity of
goods purchased. In case the cashier is doing the packaging it also wastes time
because all other customers in the queue have to wait for him to finish with the single
customer. Moreover, employing a specific employee responsible for plastic packaging
will cost the shop more because every teller should then have one.
Interestingly the community members were able to provide solutions to the problem of
plastic packaging that it is better if one is to take plastic bags only if you do not have a
shopping bag; if you did heavy shopping that your bag can not accommodate or if your
goods are too heavy and your house is far. If you bought only one product for example
coke or sweets to name a few or any other good that you are to consume soon it is
better if you do not take or request any plastic. Although some learners indicated that
they use plastics as school bags, parents were reminded to get school bags for their
families.
For papers including magazines, newspapers and white papers, a good example can be
learned from Rent-A-Drum who introduced a system called File 13 in which all office
generated paper waste is discarded (Rent-A-Drum, 2013). File 13 is emptied and
replaced for free once worn out, but one has to buy his own File 13 for N$20.00 (2.00
). It is very important that the officers are aware of the significance of reducing paper
generation and need only to print documents when it is necessary to avoid piling up of
paper waste in offices and their houses as Eco Award (2005) added. However this
requires discipline and commitment.
In Namibia many officials have a mentality of resources being government or the
companys properties, hence they are not making an effort to reuse and recycle
resources like papers. Such behaviors need to be changed in order to save the current
budget and spent this money for something else essential including community
development, food provision for the starving ones during drought (below average rainfall
than usually experienced in a year) seasons such as 2013, shelter and food during flood
52
seasons (Pallett, 1997). Therefore, I believe that if a certain amount of cartilage and
papers are to be allocated per month per officer/office, and record of how much is
printed and for what purpose may reduce the amount of paper waste generated from
offices. Extra printing especially for personal uses can be charged on the employees
accounts and every official has to purchase an extra cartilage and papers if allocated
sheets get finished before the defined time period. However special cases need to be
considered.
Apart from that, Eenhana is regarded as a green town because of a lot of natural trees
in their natural environment within the towns area of jurisdiction. However, many people
though live in town still rely on the use of firewood for outside cooking (Fig. 22 below)
which helps them to save electricity units and cut on the monthly bill.
Figure 22. Use of fire wood in Eenhana Town houses, (Lepaleni, 2013)
Fire woods are collected from the nearest shrubs and trees which are few meters away
from the central town. Even though this is beneficial to the community it is not
sustainable because the town may run out of trees in future due to deforestation and
lose the motto of being a green town. Hence recycling waste for energy recovery
especially plastics that are not being recycled in any way will prevent and divert the
dependence of the community on firewood, taking into consideration measures to
reduce pollution as Cheo (2010) supported.
53
properties, but also increases yield and minimizes transport cost for collection of organic
fraction to dump sites as supported by (Mazambani, 2011). If the garden is to take all
garden refuse for composting much compost will be produced in future which can at the
end be marketed to the local farmers. However, this will be effective provided good and
fertile compost is produced and packaged and that local markets have shown interest to
buy (Mazambani, 2011). For this to be a success basic training should be given by the
agricultural extension officers from MAWF in collaboration with the TC. Training should
not exclusively be on how to carry out composting, under what conditions, amount of
water to apply, temperature and amount of garden refuse to fill in each pit but also how
to produce a marketable compost to generate income as Mazambani (2011) mentioned.
Sufficient composting ensures that there is no use of artificial fertilizers.
Artificial
fertilizers are just not expensive but are at the same time not safe for the environment
because they contribute to groundwater pollution and accumulation of heavy metals in
soil (Engler, 2013). ET falls within the Cuvelai Etosha Basin under the Niipele Sub Basin
of which the upper aquifer is indicated to be at depths between 60 and 160 m b.g.l.
(below ground level) which represents the main freshwater source of the sub-basin
(MAWF, 2006). Hence excessive use of fertilizers can pollute the aquifer.
5.2.6 Low turn up of participants for workshops and clean up campaigns
Low number of participants is a major concern in ET, leading to discussion points and
information reaching out to only few people; more people still need to be sensitized.
These campaigns form a strong sign and good way of raising awareness for the
community. However, it is indicated that people who turn up for cleaning campaigns are
not the ones responsible for irresponsible behaviors of littering and illegal waste
dumping. Therefore, some other means of awareness raising that takes into
consideration the behaviors of the ignorant people need to be developed. This can be
by getting the communities practically involved in waste management activities.
Further, it is important that invitations are send out on time, not too early and not too
late so that it gives people time to share the invitations with neighbors and pass on the
message. Invitations can be send out three days before the workshop so that people
will not forget that there is a workshop to be held and on which date and time. However,
55
Figure 23. An example of poor sanitation in Tulipamwe informal location in Eenhana Town
56
behaviors and how it affects their present and future life. Similarly, what benefits they
can derive through waste handling programs such as recycling and reuse of materials
that were earlier deemed to be waste products. In general, awareness raising also
increases level of accountability as Sikabongo (2010) supported.
Organizing community workshops form a good way to enhance community participation
since bringing people together increases the chances of community involvement, gives
members a chance to express, share and discuss their views and several issues in line
with waste management openly with others. It also forms a good platform to bring all
relevant stakeholders on board and to have an equal say. Community workshops
further form a good way to educate the community since it gives them a chance to ask
and add information on the topic of interest. Bringing people together further
strengthens the bond between the community and the officials as well as increasing a
chance for neighbors to know and learn from each other. These are same ideas that the
CoW (2010) is calling and encouraging for.
Additionally, members indicated that it is not easy for an individual to come up with a
viable waste recycling market, but community members should establish community
based groups e.g. cooperatives, (Fig. 25) or any other entrepreneurial community
group. This makes work easier and success possibilities are high. However, as one
member clearly put it the TC should not just sit and expect community members to
approach them in their offices because when sitting at home we do not know what best
practices are available with regard to waste management; or if there are possible ways
for instance of creating jobs through waste recycling until we are taught through
workshops as you did now. Therefore, the TC should continue calling for workshops,
educate and advice the community members if these interesting opportunities are to be
effectively implemented.
5.3.2 Involve every community member in waste management activities
Involving community members as early as possible in waste management activities
encourage people and improves planning (Squires, 2006). It encourages young ones to
participate because they see it as a learning process and as an extramural activity. It
further gives them confidence and understanding that they are also important members
58
of the society since they have the right to attend for instance workshops and have a
right to express their views freely. From the community workshops held, learners were
at first shy and not able to express themselves because they thought it is only elders to
participate and contribute. It was later made clear that learners and students should
participate if they are to be attending waste management related workshops. At the end
50 % of the discussion was dominated by happy and encouraged learners and students
who raised various relevant points. The same idea is supported by Subash (n.d) that
people (community) need to be activated and be involved for effective waste
management systems.
Giving young ones a right to say something also opens up their minds. During weekly
monitoring it came out that most houses that have separated waste very well are the
ones with children that have either attended the first community workshop, or the
parents have simply explained the workshop out-comes and or information pamphlet to
them. Members indicated that it is mainly young people that take waste to the bins and
do follow instructions carefully, which most parents might not have done or rarely do.
Well capacitated children also do remind parents to discard correct fractions in the
correct bag if a mistake is observed.
The three week monitoring committee has shown interest throughout the experiment
and described it as a learning process and also a way of having fun instead of being
bored at home especially during holidays. The student from the Namibia Training
Authority pointed out that being part of the committee helped him to better understand
his assignments on environmental protection. Others got to know their neighbors better
which they havent met or spoken to before, at the end increasing communication and
networking in the community. One community member doing distance learning at the
University of Namibia (UNAM) commented that the discussions and the presentations
made her understood better her assignment on Environmental Sustainability. This has
also encouraged her to seek further assistance for more discussions and clarity.
Apart from the positive experimental outcomes, some shortcomings were raised.
Learners (which were part of the monitoring committee) indicated that there is no dirt
job like that of being a waste manager. They complained of smell and dirty as they
59
have to open and look inside the plastic bag to enable them to approximate the
fractions. Learners finally recommended that if such monitoring is to be done on a daily
basis health measures to the monitors need to be considered. These include masks and
hand gloves. For hygienic purposes the committee was strongly informed and always
reminded to wash hands after every monitoring before doing anything else at home.
5.3.3 Provide means of incentives
To enhance, encourage and ensure a long term community participation, it is necessary
that some means of incentive measures as either economic, social, political or
developmental are provided as DRFN (2011) mentioned, (see Fig.15). It is indicated
that the community mainly turn up in large numbers if it is made clear during invitations
that refreshments are to be served or there are T-shirts to be offered for the
participants. In ET t-shirts and refreshments are the means of incentives as drivers in
place that pull people to participate in activities such as cleaning campaigns (see also
section 5.2.6). People attend because they believe they have to save meals at their
houses and have an extra T-shirt to wear or give to someone in need.
Social incentives include presents e.g. awarding certificates, providing shopping bags,
pens, note books, cleaning equipment, extra bins among others; to the best achievers in
a particular waste management task completed. For instance, these incentives can be
given to houses, streets, hospitals, private clinics, schools, locations and businesses
who managed to keep their place clean, cooperated well, adhered to the set up policies
and regulations regarding waste management in town, reported illegal waste dumping,
separated waste accordingly and kept an eye on littering and other irresponsible
behaviors to name a few. Providing some gifts or presents of any nature for the job well
done encourages the person to keep doing the same task well, or even improve on it
much better and encourage others to do the same. For others who did not receive any
present at a time it will be an encouragement for them to work harder next time.
Incentives can also be by financial means. Funding availability encourages community
initiatives such as of recycling papers and plastics, making community services less
dependent on donor funding as supported by (Muller and Laroui, 2000). Other forms of
incentives are the establishment of refund or take back systems. The TC can
60
collaborate with the local businesses to establish recycling NGOs at which community
members take recyclables back for refund as suggested by the (Eco Award Namibia,
2005). Each community member who brings his cans, bottles, plastics, papers including
boxes receives a particular amount of money. The amount has to be agreed upon by
the responsible NGO, TC and the general public. As an incentive to encourage point
source separation the price has to differ and more money will be given to community
members who brought already separated recyclables from point source.
Since storage of garden refuse is also not properly done in Eenhana, having
competition between neighbors for the better storage and composting of garden refuse
can be an incentive to make the community take part in managing garden refuse and
not to always wait and put blame on the TC. To avoid long standing of garden refuse
some other means of incentives need to be put in place so that community members
who have cars can make an effort to take garden waste to the dump site and have it
dumped at the right place as authorized by the TC. Some most encouraging incentives
such as the one month subsidy on the community members water and electricity bills or
a one month free waste collection service provision can be organized. However these
have to be discussed and agreed between the TC and the respective communities
considering the type of waste management task in discussion.
During the three week experiment it was not easy to organize presents for the OB
community because the houses are a lot (68/100); there was no special fund for the
research and time was very short for the TC to include the research in its financial
budget. However, as a mean to motivate the waste management committee that
assisted with the distribution of plastic bags, invitation letters, pamphlets and helped
with the monitoring: stationeries such as pens, erasers, clipboards were given out on a
personal budget since most of them were learners. Other items such as used shopping
bags were also given out and a special group meal was prepared.
The question encountered during monitoring was what are we getting after separating
the waste? The explanation given was more on the benefits arising from proper waste
separation and kept the question until the feedback workshop. TC indicated that
incentives for those who have carried out tasks very well will be developed when the
61
experiment is to be extended to other parts of town, but OB community will remain the
leader in these types of activities. For now the experiment was simply a pilot study to
see how the community will react and what lessons can the TC learn from it and discuss
possible areas of improvement.
5.3.4 Provision of sufficient waste bins
Sufficient and well distributed dustbins in town will ensure that littering is minimized
because it is easier for people to discard waste in bins provided they are at a
reasonable distance. However as mentioned by Asong (2010) provision of sufficient
facilities alone does not guarantee sustainable waste management but should also be
emptied and disposed at a right time and place. For the residential areas enough bins
e.g. three (one 85 L bin and two plastic bags which are cheaper) per household will
encourage people to sort out waste from point source as Eco Award Namibia (2005)
supported. The TC has to discuss and agree on the type and size of the containers to
distribute together with the residents. Provision of e.g. three 85 L bins will be a waste
because waste such as food remains will not fill up the 85 L bin before the collection,
rather a smaller and cheaper dustbin (CoW, 2010).
At businesses and on streets separation is also possible. It is important especially in
streets that the bins are correctly and clearly labeled with different colors to direct the
people. During the time of the mini experiment two plastic bags provided allowed the
community to separate plastics, bins, bottles and cans in one yellow bag, papers and
boxes in the green bag, and the rest in the 85 L black bin. However, these results could
have been improved if more color coded bags were provided so that for instance glass,
plastic bottles and cans can be in separate bags. For houses with more children it also
takes time to make sure they understand well which waste to discard in which bag if
many fractions are to be separated in just one bag.
5.3.5 Job creation to local people
With the increasing demand for food and space, every-one needs to be financially
independent. Since Namibia is reported to have a high un-employment rate of 51.2 %
as mentioned before, one way to create employment is through green jobs. Green jobs
62
minimize the amount of waste reaching the disposal sites; help minimize negative
environmental impacts, leading to socially, economically and environmentally
sustainable enterprises. This result because green jobs reduce the amount of water,
energy consumption as well as the use of raw materials which cut on greenhouse gas
emissions, reduce waste generation, protect and restore ecosystems (Shipanga, 2013).
Unskilled people are more neglected and have to struggle to find means of employment
and survival. Waste management initiatives form a good way to take into consideration
low and unskilled people. This can be achieved if waste recycling NGOs and community
groups are established; if municipalities and TCs employ local people in all created
waste management activities such as waste sorting and recycling. Similarly, unskilled
people can be employed as waste collectors and litter pickers (MHSS, 2010; Windhoek
Municipality, 2010).
Ensuring job security will not only improve the financial status and livelihood of the
employed people through poverty reduction, but benefits the community at large by
reducing crime rates and thieves which may result due to poverty and unemployment as
Hasheela (2009) and Windhoek Municipality (2010) discussed. Most importantly job
creation is at the same time helping the GRN in dealing with unemployment in the
country. Securing employment for the unemployed also prevents local people not to
concentrate on scavenging in dustbins in town or at the dump sites.
Members can organized themselves into groups such as cooperatives as discussed
before (see section 5.2.1) to recycle old cloths to make shopping bags and other
marketable products from plastic bags and bottles, glasses and papers. The TC officials
made it clear that if community members can organize themselves in to groups of
interest TC will not hesitate to support in all means such of providing advice, training
and securing funds to finance community projects. The good thing ET has put in place
is to contract local people who further employ local people.
63
and illegal dumping are reported, necessary measures are taken and pollution from the
dump site are avoided to a greater extend (Squires, 2006).
Moreover, cooperation makes it easier for community members to feel more
comfortable to communicate, discuss any point and propose possible means to address
present issues. A few example include a question on what happened to waste after the
mini experiment was raised. Unfortunately there was no special treatment done to
waste yet as recycling possibilities require intensive planning and budgeting which the
experiment time allocated did not allow. However, this will not be the case when the TC
will start to implement it further. Boxes, cans and plastic bottles are collected for
recycling by Wilco as usual, but the rest is landfilled. Therefore, it was strongly
discussed that the community concentrates on waste reduction through reuse.
Whether the community is going to buy plastics for waste separation when the TC will
implement the ideas further was another question. TC will see based on the available
budget upon project implementation or they can find means on how to get plastics
affordable by the community. During the experiment the TC bought the plastics because
it was only one location running the experiment. However it was clearly pointed out that
the community should note that if plastics are to be provided for free to the whole town
the TC need to be assisted financially in order for it not to run out of budget. The
community can be charged some cents more on their monthly waste collection which is
currently at N$32.00 (3.20 ). However necessary arrangements and agreements have
to be discussed and agreed with the entire community and all other stakeholders.
Apart from that, good policies can be developed and successfully be implemented if
good cooperation is guaranteed. For example: the TC together with the community
members can make and agree on schedules where every owner must put out the refuse
containers such as the wheelie bin, the 85 L bin or any other plastic bag on the specific
days, time and place determined for collection. Failing to put out your bins until the next
collection date will be fined or any other condition as agreed upon applies. From the
community workshop, members pointed out that it is necessary to provide advice to the
TC and closely work together in order to make work easier for the TC and for the
communitys benefits as this enhances better waste management. This can be achieved
65
by following the instructions as set by the TC, adhering to the 3Rs of Re-duce, Reuse
and Recycle waste. However, though the community itself identified such points, this is
not what they are practicing at the present time, but the hope is that from the
discussions held the community will keep the points of 3Rs in mind and slowly put them
in practice. Although such actions or practices require commitment, they are of vital
importance which the community and other stakeholders need to recognize.
lot of time to fully grasp the ideas and to be able to do separation properly. Hence one
does not except a 100 % results in just a short time period. The idea is supported by
Yanna (2013) who reported a positive and significant community result of separation in
a year in Windhoek compared to three week period of which this research covered.
Quantities of different fractions such as plastics, cans and plastic bottles increased with
1 % each during the third week monitoring. Many households were open because both
teachers and learners that went for the holiday started returning back to prepare
themselves for schools on the 20th May 2013. Shopping increased as people buy goods
for their households and preparing learners for the new semester. The glass bottles
however remained constant at 9 % as perhaps people have not bought and used more
glass bottles or have not done many activities that generate more glass bottles. One
more reason is that people rarely take alcohol bottles with to their houses except tomato
bottles that were mainly found in the bags. People mainly drink and leave the bottle
behind. Fraction of mixed waste reduced significantly from 6 to 3 % during the third
monitoring week which implies that the community made an effort to better separate
waste, which gives and impression that the aim of the experiment is met to some extend
even though there are still some households that are not giving a 100 % separation.
Peoples behavior still need to be improved through education and improved
cooperation (see section 5.3) in order to achieve one common goal. Although there are
always minor people that are not cooperative in any mean, the majorities do collaborate
and comply, and success of waste management related projects lies in their hands
Subash (n.d). Therefore, it is necessary that incentive measures be provided to the
committed members as a mean of encouragement.
During monitoring some members indicated that it was not easy to separate correctly all
fractions that need to be in the yellow bag because they are many and one needs time
to reflect on which waste supposed to be in which bag; unlike the green bag where you
only have one type of fraction to discard and leave. Although the green bag appears to
have larger fraction of mixes from monitoring week one till the last monitoring compare
to the yellow (21 %, 15 %,10 % and 6 %, 6 %, 3 %) respectively, this results because
67
the estimated proportions were recorded as percentages but does not represent the
actual amount or number of waste in the plastic bag.
The idea of waste separation at a point source is necessary because elders will get a
chance to inform and educate children to adapt at an early age; understand the
significance of waste separation and also play a role in waste management. Sufficient
implementation of waste separation from generation point will reduce the collection
frequencies e.g. from three to two or one time. This is possible because waste is not
mixed and different bins have enough space to accommodate more recyclables which
do not smell. Moreover, separation increases recovery quantity and recycling
possibilities, save cost and reduce waste at dump site (Yanna, 2013; Shipanga, 2013).
Therefore, it is anticipated that if the TC is to continue straight with the waste separation
idea people will not forget but will keep on until it becomes a habit. However, proper
information and logistics need to be ensured in advance.
5.5.2 Use of shopping bags to reduce plastic generation
Shopping bags get forgotten
Even though the use of shopping bags was appreciated by the community, some
challenges discussed include that the bag is most likely to be forgotten at home. For the
ones who owned cars they forget the bag in another car if they happen to use a different
car when going for shopping. Such cases are still to happen because the idea is new
and the community is still not adapted to it. Yet it is their responsibility to make sure the
bag is placed at an area where every household member can access it easily.
Members further discussed that it is not always that one plans to go for shopping.
Sometimes you end up buying goods if you pass by the shop when you do not have the
bag, where by you are forced to take a plastic bag. As a solution to this, members
discussed that one has to consider the type and quantity of goods you bought. If it is
one item you can carry in hand, otherwise take one plastic bag if goods can fit.
However, it is discussed that unplanned buying is also not economic wise because you
did not plan to buy such goods at that time. This leads to unnecessary spending of
buying what you do not necessarily need but rather want.
68
Financial constraints
Since there were no shopping bags handed out to the OB community, limited finance
was pointed out as a challenge especially if one considers a number of 7 of 21 people
used the shopping bags (Fig.17), although there might be others that did not turn up for
the workshop. Discussed ideas focused more on the TC to negotiate with business
owners with regard to environmental protection. Businesses can assist the TC to raise
funds to buy shopping bags or TC can subsidize bags. If the current cost for the
shopping bag in the local market is N$17.00 (1.70 ), the shopping bag can be offered
at N$10.00 (1.00 ). Necessary conditions can be set upon successful implementation
of such agreements. For instance, if one forgets his shopping bag then he has to buy a
plastic bag in the shop at a cost of N$1.00. This may be difficult because the majority
would not like to do it especially that plastics used to be offered for free in the shops.
For more discussed solutions and recommendations see table 3 (section 4.3.1) or table
5, section 6.1 for the implementation strategy and feasibility.
Some members still do not understand the use of shopping bags
This same point takes us back to the importance of awareness creation (section 5.3.1).
This was encountered during monitoring and posed by people who admitted not to have
attended the first workshop though received the information pamphlet. As a discussion
point on what can be done or what to do with these people, members indicated that it is
important to teach others what they have learned from the workshops and encourage
them to attend. Regular workshop attendees can also pick up others to meetings.
Another way to motivate others is by seeing others with for instance presents distributed
from the workshops attended as a mean of incentive as DRFN (2011) supports.
However these incentives will be considered by the TC upon implementation of all these
initiatives when all proper and earlier planning including the budgets are in place. There
was no any mean of incentive that the TC can assist to organize during the research
time because there was no enough time to review their financial budgets and see if they
can fit it in as pointed out earlier. Similarly, it also takes time because all procedures
69
need to be followed before any budget is allocated. However members indicated that
the TC should include sufficient funds for all activities expected and unexpected.
Not only that, in ensuring the successful implementation of waste management
initiatives, businesses need also to be sensitized in environmental health matters in
working together with the community. The ideas were discussed based on the
encountered questions in town such as why the cashier did not provide the customer
with the plastic bag, who told the customer to pack goods in the cotton bag, why
carrying goods in hand, why packing goods in your hand bag? At a point people laughs
seeing one packing few items in a hand bag, some look at you as being crazy. The
same point takes us back to the issue of social to behaviors discussed before (Joseph
and Nagendran, 2007) and environmental education. All that people need to know is
why such a behavior e.g. uses of shopping bag, buying of plastics among others.
Shop owners need to be reminded of their environmental protection responsibilities and
share with their employees. Similarly, businesses need to partake in promoting
environmental friendly ways of shopping thorough adverts and posts in or outside their
shops and providing incentives to customers. For instance, they can give discounts or
give few presents to everyone who did not pick a plastic bag from the shop. Generally,
TCs or Namibia at large need to invest more on environmental education.
Small size
Some shopping bags sold in local shops are said to be of small size. Although small
size is identified as a challenge there are also larger bags that are sold in local shops
that people use mainly for travelling rather. One can use that one larger bag when going
for heavy shopping. Using large bags does not only benefit the environment more but
serves also in the interest of the owner. Large bags are hardly to forget in taxis unlike
the small plastic bags, they lighten the carrying job because they replace five or more
package of plastic bags as members discussed. If one is to stick to the small bag it also
saves him from overspending because he has to buy in small quantities that his bag can
accommodate, thereby restricting your spending.
70
Chapter 6: Conclusions
Objective 1. To determine the waste management strategies in Eenhana Town
To ensure effective and efficient waste management, one need to ensure that best
practices are put in place to protect human health, protect and maintain the
environment. ET though newly proclaimed has put in place various waste management
measures such as: provision of waste bins to the residents, collecting and disposing of
waste, organizing cleaning campaigns, contracting local people as service providers
e.g. waste collectors, litter pickers and excavators. The TC has also a demarcated open
dumpsite that accommodates all waste from town. Since dumpsites are not
recommended the TC drafted the waste management policy including the management
plan to upgrade the Eenhana dumpsite with the assistance of the Harelbeke city in
Belgium. Having these in place however does not guarantee effective waste
management as the TC has several challenges to overcome as in objective two.
Objective 2. Identify the existing waste management problems in town and
attempts to mitigate them
Despite waste management systems in place the TC is still facing challenges such as
limited financial budget and staff members, absence of recycling opportunities, littering
and illegal dumping, dumpsite fence vandalism, pass-by scavengers, limited
cooperation and poor community participation. The TC has not done much yet to
overcome these challenges, hence table 4 (section 6.1 below) summarizes the
challenges, detailed solutions or areas of improvement, proposed implementation
strategies and their feasibilities. Taking into consideration these measures will help the
TC to significantly address the identified challenges on time and develop applicable
sustainable management strategies to anticipate future environmental challenges.
Objective 3: To find motivational strategies or approaches to make people
participate in waste management
While some people look at waste as a problem, others look at it as a resource for socioeconomic development. The community needs to be involved in order to contribute to
the local waste management systems and to address various environmental issues and
71
health concerns affecting them and the generations to come. Community members play
a significant role in waste management; hence various measures to motivate them need
to be developed to encourage community involvement. These measures include first
and foremost awareness raising and capacity building, provision of incentives,
involvement of young generation such as learners and students, provision of sufficient
waste separation and storage containers and job creation. Others include enhanced
cooperation between the service providers, community and other stakeholders in
addition to assigning tasks to the specific individuals or community.
It can be concluded therefore that the community is willing to cooperate and work with
the TC in ensuring proper waste management provided necessary materials are
available and relevant information is provided. This ensures that people understand why
carrying out such tasks and how they benefit from them. Waste separation increases
recovery quantity and recycling possibilities, save cost and reduce waste at dump site.
Moreover, quick and effective practice of waste avoidance and reuse will save space
and extend the lifespan of the Eenhana dump site. Therefore, successful
implementation of the waste management systems and activities including community
involvement is not something that one achieves in a day but requires time. Hence,
necessary planning and integrated approach is a pre requisite. Table 5 gives an overall
summary of the challenges that the OB community members expressed in the use of
shopping bags as a mean to reduce waste generation, possible solutions and
implementation feasibility.
72
Littering
dumping
and
illegal
Possible solutions
Environmental education
Implementation strategy
Community workshops
Establishing school clubs
Information pamphlets
73
Limited
cooperation
between the community
and TC
Advertise WM positions
Take in interns from high
educational institutions
Give in-service trainings to
employees and semi-skilled CMs
Pass by scavengers at
the dump site
Enhanced security
Educate public for risks
arising on the negative
impacts of scavenging
Repair fence
Put up a path way outside
the dump site
Provide 24 Hour security
Punish identified individuals
74
No recycling of papers
and plastics
Avoid generation
Reuse and recycle these
waste types
Household composting
Development of a small scale
biogas plant
Careful
utilization
of
the
allocated budget for optimum
output
Organize fund raising activities
for the WM division
75
Financial transactions
should be presented to
the WM division by the
financial manager; all
transactions made must
be accounted for
Set aside financial
budget for all activities
Possible solutions
Financial
Implementation strategy
People
still
do
not
understand the use of
shopping bags
Promote
environmental
health education
Encourage others to attend
waste
management
workshops
76
TC to held more
information
sharing
workshops
with
communities
CMs to try best to
change by adopting
new initiatives
CMs should engage
and commit to recycling
initiatives
TC and local business
to advice, train and
provide
financial
support
TC and community to
plan and execute all
possible fund raising
activities
ETC
and
business
should set budget aside
to provide bags for free
or a subsidy
TC to include waste
management
in its
yearly
plans
and
budgets
Secure funds for all
activities
CMs to concentrate on waste
minimization and recycling
Well separated
commercial, domestic
and non-hazardous
hospital waste
Recyclables
Recycling
centers
Organics
Biogas/selfcomposting
Residuals
Landfill
New products
Electricity/
heat/
fertilizer
Odor/smell
Leachate
Target
Dump
site
expanded, upgraded
to landfill and fenced
Indicator
Size of dumping site
expanded.
Landfill established.
Fence erected.
Odor from the dump Dump
site
odor
site minimized
reduced
Odor
controlling
mechanisms in place.
Avoid pollution by Leachate
collection
leachate
structures in place.
Recycling
78
Means of verification
Visual observation
Fence
Landfill site management
report.
Personal observation.
Landfill
management
report
Personal observation.
ETC
or
CGs
implementation reports on
the recycling Program.
Expenditure report on
waste disposal.
One contractor instead of
two or more.
Reports on the disposed
amount of waste.
Personal observation.
Inputs
Target group
Un-skilled, disabilities
& unemployed
Recycling
cooperatives
Products
Startup capital
Figure 25. Example of possible job creation incentive for Eenhana community
Successful implementation of these initiatives will not only create jobs for the unskilled
and most neglected groups such as the persons with disabilities but it will also be a
mean to empower them as these initiatives will add value to their life. To market their
79
products the cooperative can participate in trade fairs, exhibitions, local adverts in
radios and newspapers.
Table 7. Developmental expectations for the cooperative in 5-10 years
Fully developed
management body
Manager
Chairperson
Treasurer
Secretary
Financial
committee
Disciplinary
committee
Fully established
enterprise
Self-funding base
Good
management
body
Improved
technical skills
Established
networks
Full support from
local markets
Established
outlets
Cooperative
Community benefits
registration
Legal
entity
Reduction of
registered with the
plastics, paper
cooperative
and
glass
directorate of MAWF
waste
More
jobs
created
Community
members
empowered
Improved
livelihood
80
Chapter 8: References
Albrecht, E., Hoffmann, J. and Knopp, L. (2007). Basel convention on the control of trans boundary
movement of hazardous waste and their disposal. I.L.M. Selected Conventions and Treaties on
International Environmental Law (IEL). Germany: BTU Cottbus.
Asong, F. Z. (2010). Recycling and material recovery in Cameroon: Implications for poverty alleviation
and ecological sustainability. (Master thesis, Brandenburgische Technische Universitt, Cottbus,
2010).
Cheo, A. (2010). Municipal solid waste management and groundwater contamination in Limbe,
Cameroon. (Master of Science thesis. Brandenburgische Technischen Universitt, Cottbus, 2010).
City
of
Windhoek,
(2010).
Solid
waste
management
policy.
Retrieved
from
http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/pdf/infrastructure/SWMPolicy.pdf
Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, (2011). Incentives and benefit options for stakeholder
participation in IWRM in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin. Windhoek
Eco Award Namibia, (2005). Waste and sewage, the worlds growing pollution problem. Retrieved from:
http://www.ecoawards-namibia.org/downloads.php
Eenhana Town Council (2012). Waste Management Policy. Eenhana, Namibia
Eenhana Town Council, (2013). Local tender board for Eenhana town council. Eenhana
Engler, A. B. (2013). Soil protection and Ecotoxicology. Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus.
Hallaj, S., Altaner, S., Ando, A., Brawn, J., Cidell, J., Crabtree, G., Wood, G. (2012). Sustainability: A
comprehensive foundation. Houst7on, Rice University
Hasheela, (2009). Municipal Waste Management in Namibia: The Windhoek case study. (PhD Thesis
Dissertation,
Universidad
Azteca,
2009).
Retrieved
from
http://www.environment-
namibia.net/tl_files/pdf_documents/selected_publications/Waste%20Management_Hasheela__2009.
pdf http://www.swlf.ait.ac.th/UpdData/International/NRIs/Top%20to%20down%20approach.pdf
Joseph, K. Nagedran, R. (2007). Top down and bottom up approach for sustainability of waste
management in developing countries.
waste management and landfill symposium S. Margherita di Pula, Caglina. Retrieved from
http://www.swlf.ait.ac.th/UpdData/International/NRIs/Top%20to%20down%20approach.pdf
Klundert, A. and Anschiitz, J. (2000). The sustainability of alliances between stakeholders in waste
management-using the concept of integrated Sustainable Waste Management. Working paper for
UWEP/CWG.
Make use of cooperatives, (2013, 06 18). Make use of cooperatives. Namib Times. Retrieved from
http://www.namibtimes.net/forum/topics/make-use-of-co-operatives
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (2006). Cuvelai Etosha groundwater investigation. Version 1.1.
Windhoek: BWAC.
Ministry of Health and Social Services (2010). National waste management policy. Windhoek: MHSS.
81
Ministry of Regional Local Government and Housing, (1992). A decentralization policy for the republic of
Namibia. Windhoek: MRLGH.
Muller, M. and Laroui, F. (2000). Factors favoring the sustainability of community participation, A
Literature Review. UWEP Occasional Paper. Netherlands.
National Planning Commission, (2001). Census final report Khomas region. Retrieved from
http://www.npc.gov.na/publications/census_data/Final_Report_Khomas.pdf
National Planning Commission, (2011). Namibia 2011 population and housing census Preliminary
Results. From http://www.gov.na/documents/10180/34849/2011_Preliminary_Result.pdf/0ea026d49687-4851-a693-1b97a1317c60
Office of the Prime Minister, (1992). Government gazette of the republic of Namibia. Windhoek.
Ohangwena Regional Council (2012). Ohangwena Region, Ohangwena region at a glance. Eenhana.
Eenhana: Ohangwena regional council.
Pallett, J. (1997). Sharing water in southern Africa. Desert research foundation of Namibia, Windhoek.
Rundu,
N.
(2012,
07
27).
Join
cooperatives.
Namibian
Sun.
Retrieved
from
http://sun.com.na/content/agri/%E2%80%98join-co-operatives%E2%80%99
Sherbourne, R. (2010). Guide to the Namibian economy. Institute for public policy research, Windhoek.
Shipanga, S. (2013, April 19). Job creation through waste management. The Namibian, P. 7.
Sikabongo, F.M. (2010). Urban governance and the problems of waste management in post-apartheid
Oshakati Namibia. Massey University, 1-22.
Squires, C. O. (2006). Public participation in solid waste management in small island developing states.
Retrieved http://www.caribank.org/uploads/publications-reports/staff-papers/SquiresSWMpaper.pdf,
1/02/13
Subash,
A.
(n.d).
Community
participation
in
solid
waste
management,
retrieved
from
http://www.swlf.ait.ac.th/UpdData/Presentations/Train/MRASU18.PDF, 1/02/13
United Nation Environmental Program, (2012). The global garbage crisis: No time to waste. Retrieved
from http://www.unep.org/newscentre/default.aspx?DocumentID=2698&ArticleID=9317
United
Nations
(2012).
Millennium
development
goals
2012.
New
York.
Retrieved
from
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/MDG/english/The_MDG_Report_2012.pdf
United Nations, (1992). Report of the United Nations conference on the environment and development.
Rio declaration on Environment and development. A/CONF.151/26 (Vol. I). Rio de Janeiro
Windhoek Municipality (2011). Government gazette of the republic of Namibia. (Report No. 4650).
Windhoek
Municipality,
(2011).
Moving
towards
green
city.
Retrieved
from
http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/pdf/infrastructure/MovingTowardsAGreenCity.pdf
Yanna, S. (2013). Windhoek says ambitious recycling program is gaining momentum. Engineering News,
Retrieved from http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/namibia-2013-03-15.
82
Chapter 9: Appendices
Appendix 1: Designed interview questionnaires for the Town Council
officials
TOWN COUNCIL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS EENHANA TOWN
1.
Community and waste management:
How are peoples attitudes towards waste in your town?
To what extend is the communitys level of participating in waste management? (Very good, good,
satisfactory, none)
..
..
If very good - good: what or which positive contributions did they make?
What strategies did you (town council) employ to make people participate in waste management so far if
any?
If not, how can we make community members successfully participate in waste management? What are
the possible areas of improvement?
How is the communication network between your department and the community?
If not why?
Are there any awareness creation programs on waste management in your town?
Can you say there is proper community awareness on proper waste separation and disposal?
If yes, why?
Are there community based initiatives or projects (e.g. recycling groups) in your town?
In terms of waste generation, do you think there is a difference between the rich and poor?
83
If so why? And how does this influence waste management?
2.
Waste Management strategies in ET
What type or categories of waste are mainly generated in town?
How often?
Of all waste collected can you approximate the fractions of the following waste categories?
Metals
Glass Paper Plastic Kitchen Other bio
E-waste
Of these fractions, which ones are deemed problematic if any? And why?
Approx. how much waste (%) is generated from houses, schools, hospital and commercial sector? (Per
week? month, year?)
Can you describe the process from waste generation till disposal?
Can you explain how is waste being managed (facilities used) in your town?
If yes why?
If not why?
What is the size/capacity of the dump site? (These can be asked when at the dump site)
Which parameters are monitored? (Leachate, odor, scavengers (animals and people), landfill gas)?
Any others?
What can you say about the situation of these dump sites? (Good, just okay, bad)
84
What are the future plans for these dump sites? (Close, rehabilitate or upgrade to e.g. controlled dump
sites)?
How can the community be of use/ help with the maintenance or sustainability of the dump sites (If any)
3.
Problems or challenges experienced
Are there any challenges the municipality has experienced?
If yes what type? (E.g. limited personnel, equipment, and financial, poor coordination among others)?
How are these challenges addressed? Or what measures are in place to mitigate them?
According to the national waste management policy (2010) finance and lack of staff among others are
identified as challenges facing the waste management in Namibia. Do you agree to this?
Is there anything done so far for the past 3 years to mediate this? What can u suggest?
Other comments?
4.
Stakeholders and role in waste management
Can you identify the relevant stakeholders in waste management of ET?
What role do these stakeholders play in enhancing community involvement (if any)?
General
Do you have an idea of what happen to hazardous and non-hazardous waste from Eenhana state
hospital?
85
86
Waste type
Yellow bag
Plastics
Cans
Bottles
Plastics
Bottles
Glass
Green bag
Papers and boxes
85 L bin
Other waste
87
Any observation?
88