BY OWETHU DLAMINI
MBABANE– Finding a way forward in solving waste management issues in the country.
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati, who represented His Excellency, The Right Honorable Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, at the ‘Waste Indaba’, emphasised that a way forward needed to be sought through this event for the management of waste in the country.
The ‘Waste Indaba’, 2022 themed ‘Transitioning To A Circular Economy: Addressing The Waste Management Nexus In Eswatini’ took place at the Sibane Sami Hotel today where issues of environmental pollution, waste management and single use plastic bags were discussed in depth. The event, hosted by Eswatini Environment Authority, was set to look at ways of promoting waste management in the country and a transition into a circular economy.
Vilakati mentioned that opportunities brought about by waste could not be ignored because 80 per cent of this waste could be recycled and reused to stimulate economic growth.
“Each year millions of Emalangeni are spent just in picking litter, transporting and land filling of waste by our towns and municipalities, which is not right. Millions of Emalangeni are also spent by our Water Utility Company, on the treatment of waste contaminated portable water for domestic consumption across the country, this ends up taking up resources which could be utilised to offer other basic social services to communities.
“It is also worth mentioning that there is growing evidence globally, in waste related health risks such as exposure to poorly disposed hazardous waste, which may cause chronic illnesses such as cancer. I therefore call upon this ‘Waste Indaba’ today to take time to ask all the relevant and critical questions for Eswatini to take a decisive way forward. In this regard, the country should be aware that the total ban of single use plastics is eminent because we have to do the right thing,” said Vilakati.
As part of the event, the challenges and opportunities in Eswatini, through a circular economy in waste management, were presented in order to find effective ways in dealing with waste management in the country.
This is according to information sourced from the Eswatini Environment Authority’s social media platforms (Facebook).
