The European Union (EU) has injected N$36.8 million towards the City of Windhoek’s solid waste management initiative.
The project is likely to see Windhoek returning to its top position as the cleanest city in Africa. The City lost its long-held status to Kigali of Rwanda.
“Solid waste management is a mammoth task that requires financial support as well as human resource investment, therefore his assistance from the EU will greatly help in our waste reduction efforts,” said CoW Councillor Fransina Kahungu at the ground-breaking ceremony of a Waste Buy-Back centre.
The innovative project is a result of the agreement signed between the city of Bremen, Germany and CoW in January this year.
“The signing culminated into further dialogue and knowledge transfer between the City of Windhoek and Free Hanseatic city of Bremen. Therefore, this venture supports the 2018 National Waste Management Strategy, which aims to make Namibia a leading country in Africa, in terms of solid waste management standards by 2028. While at city level, this supports the city’s Integrated Waste Management Plan which targets a total waste reduction or zero waste within the city,” said CoW Mayor Sade Gawanas.
Gawanas said the project is premised on strengthening urban governance; supporting the circular economy and contributing to prosperity and innovation; as well as fostering environmental awareness and education amongst residents.
“The project is expected to recycle 2,000 tonnes of waste, with 100 monthly drop offs per month by 2025.
“Our joint project will support Namibia to shift towards a more sustainable model known as the circular economy for Windhoek as a pilot; and hopefully for Namibia as a whole in the future,” said EU Ambassador Sinikka Antila.
“It is noteworthy that the project will support resource efficiency and will create much needed employment opportunities.”
The waste buy-back centre will be constructed in Katutura along Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street with the aim of recycling, packaging waste, landfill and solid waste management.
Antila noted that an upsurge in the generation of solid waste across the capital was not only creating environmental, health challenges, but also aesthetic problems.
“Current global energy, environmental, health, food security and socio-economic crises, exacerbated by aggressive war by Russia on European soil, is reversing global development gains and placing people and the planet under unprecedented stress,” she stressed.
“Humanity faces existential threats from climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution, as well as the compounded challenges of post COVID-19 recovery, shrinking civic space and deteriorating governance.”
In addition, Antila said the European Green Deal is Europe’s ambitious response to existential threats.
