present status of environmentally sound management of wastes in africa
DESCRIPTION
Present Status of Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes in Africa. Patrick MWESIGYE Uganda Cleaner Production Centre John MBOGOMA Independent consultant Rene VAN BERKEL United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Background. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
1
Present Status of Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes in Africa
Patrick MWESIGYEUganda Cleaner Production Centre
John MBOGOMAIndependent consultant
Rene VAN BERKELUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization
2
Background A desk top review was undertaken to appraise
the current status of environmentally sound management of wastes in Africa
Informed by: National reviews in Egypt, Kenya and Zambia Inputs from ad hoc expert group meeting Further submissions from waste management experts
Put in context of international commitments under Agenda 21, JPoI and Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Undertaken for UNIDO and ECA in close cooperation with the Africa Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production
3
Methodology Review of existing policy and strategy
documents Analysis of waste generation data where available
Broad coverage Municipal, industrial, commercial, construction and
demolition, hazardous, medical, radio-active Consultation of government and other stakeholders Experience of the National Cleaner Production
Centres Limitations
No independent data collection or verification predominantly qualitative picture based on experts’
assessments
4
Regional Gaps/1 Institutional and Organisational
Policy and Planning No national policies for waste reduction at source Trust of laws and regulations on collection and disposal of
waste, not on recycling and recovery Weak enforcement
Stakeholders Limited involvement of national stakeholders, including
private sector, community, and border controls Capacity Building, Training and Information
Low human, institutional and financial capacity to develop and implement integrated waste management at all levels and all sectors of government, industry and community
Waste management ranked low compared to other national development goals and overall lacking awareness
5
Regional Gaps/2 Institutional and Organisational/Ctd
Finance and cost recovery General reluctance to pay for waste collection and disposal High cost of appropriate equipment/technology for waste collection and
management Waste Characterisists
Information on types, sources, composition and volumes of various wastes is incomplete and often outdated
6
Regional Gaps/3 Waste Management Practices
Generation No incentives for source reduction and segregation
Collection Efficiency and coverage of collections systems is low (estimated at ~ 40%
in urban areas) Transportation
Low efficiency due to limited availability of vehicles and lacking maintenance
High cost for local governments (up to ~30% of local government budget) Recycling and Recovery
Lacking facilities for organic waste, plastics, etc Random sorting and recovery by scavengers on streets and at dump sites
Land-filling Most landfills do not meet basic environmental controls, and uncontrolled
burning is common practice Increasing demand for land fill space is not met
Cleaner Production Proven potential to reduce waste generation from businesses and other
organisations
7
Overall Situation Waste management problems in Africa are varied and
complex, facing infrastructure, technical, social/economic, organisational/management, regulatory and legal challenges
Waste is typically disposed off without consideration for environmental and human health impacts, leading to its accumulation in cities, towns and uncontrolled dumpsites
Co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste without segregation is common practice
Municipal Solid Waste Management has been intractable problem for long time and beyond the capacity of most municipal and state governments
Improper waste disposal in Africa has resulted in poor hygiene, lack of access to clean water and sanitation
8
Major Trends and Emerging Issues Poor waste management aggravates the problems of generally low
sanitation levels Urbanisation is on the rise, and expected to continue, often without
waste management planning and infrastructure Waste management infrastructure largely non-existent in rural areas
Contributing to high health cost, poverty and urban migration Gap between waste management policy and legislation is widening
due to ongoing capacity constraints or non existence of suitable waste management facilities
Requires major investments and access to technical know how, for which means are far-fetched
Waste generation to increase significantly as result of industrialisation, urbanisation and modernisation of agriculture
Aggravating E-Waste problem due to growing use of ICT and rapid turn-over
Increasing complexity of waste as result of changing lifestyle and consumption patterns in particular of growing urban middle class
9
Conclusions/1 Waste Reduction
Prevent and minimise waste and maximise reuse, recycling and use of environmentally sound alternative materials with participation of government authorities and all stakeholders
Many recycling initiatives Paper, scrap metal, glass, plastics, C&D
Scavenging provides livelihood for urban poor Smaller initiatives with organic waste
Compost, biogas, bio-ethanol Some research on biodegradable materials but no
commercialisation NCPCs working with business to reduce waste Declining availability of landfill space Some policies to support development of recycling industry Some bans on specific disposable products Growing concerns on large volume mining waste and
legacies
10
Conclusions/2 Integrated Waste Management
Develop waste management systems and extend waste service coverage. Amongst others develop and promote integrated waste management solutions to minimise urban and industrial waste generation and promote recycling and reuse
Most countries have some waste legislation and several have started with integrated waste management
Slow progress in improving waste management systems and extending waste service coverage
Capacity, technical and financial constraints Many countries have legislation for hazardous wastes
Limited management capacity continued co-disposal Almost exclusive reliance on landfills
Standards developed but most cannot meet these environmental and health risks and future liability
Some landfill gas collection (CDM) Public Private partnerships are emerging and encouraged Informal recovery by scavengers
Greater efficiency dependent on organisation and formalisation of recycling and waste management sectors
11
Conclusions/3 Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA)
Ratification and implementation of relevant international instruments on hazardous waste including Bamako Convention, 4th Lome Convention and Basel Convention and its protocol on liability and compensation for damage resulting from transboundary movement and disposal of waste
Most countries have ratified relevant international instruments and are at different stages with development and implementation of national action plans (Basel and Bamako)
Lacking implementation due to absence of financial instrument
Protocol on liability and compensation still outstanding Most countries lack comprehensive inventories of
hazardous waste and sites potentially contaminated through inappropriate disposal of hazardous waste
12
Conclusions/4 Illegal Trafficking
Preventing international illegal trafficking of hazardous wastes and to prevent damage resulting from the trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes in a manner consistent with obligations under relevant international instruments
Now controlled by Basel and related conventions which have been ratified and are being implemented
Need to strengthen border controls and involve revenue authorities
Growing concerns about imports of used consumer goods that contain hazardous materials
Cooperation Global and regional cooperation, including exchange of information and experience and transfer of
appropriate technologies to improve the management of (radio-active) wastes
Need to improve exchange of information, including volumes, best practices and storage methods (IAEA)
Need to prepare for greater use of nuclear energy and its wastes
Management of radio-active materials in mining is growing concern, as is the import of equipment containing radio-active materials
13
Conclusions/5 Contaminated Sites
Support the clean up of sites contaminated as a result of all types of nuclear activity and to conduct health studies in the regions around those sites as appropriate with a view to identifying where health treatment may be needed and should be provided
Africa still lacks a comprehensive inventory of potentially contaminated sites
Sound Management of Radio-Active Wastes Including: sound storage, transportation, trans-boundary movement and
disposal of radioactive material guided by principles of Agenda 21; technical assistance to African countries on management and safe disposal; and identification of safety measures
Importance is widely acknowledged, but capacity remains still very low
14
Recommendations/1 Waste Reduction
Policy, Planning, Legislation and Enforcement Policies and strategies need to be strengthened and/or
developed and enforced, addressing all waste streams, sources and recycling, recovery and disposal options
Stakeholder Participation Integration and coordination needs to be achieved
among sectors and levels of government and with stakeholders in private sector and civil society
Cleaner Production Enhance capacity and create awareness on importance
and benefits of Cleaner Production across Africa Technologies
Accelerate the development and dissemination of appropriate technologies and practices for environmentally sound management of various waste streams
15
Recommendations/2 Integrated Waste Management
Capacity Building and Training Improve formal and informal training and learning Strengthen capacities of responsible agencies
Public Awareness Boost general awareness on impacts of waste on human
health and environment Finance and Cost Recovery
Charge for waste collection and encourage private sector and enable NGOs to initiate new projects
Data and Monitoring Data on waste quantities and characteristics need to be
improved to enable planning and investment and independently monitor and evaluate achievements
16
Recommendations/3 Integrated Waste Management/ctd
Best Practices and Technologies Improve collection and transportation systems for
all waste streams Encourage waste segregation at source and
develop appropriate recycling systems at appropriate scales with private sector and civil society partners
Improve recovery in particular from organic wastes Ensure adequate treatment of medical wastes Change over to controlled landfill operations and
avoid co-disposal of medical and hazardous waste
17
Recommendations/4 Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Speed up ratification by all countries Provide means of implementation, including
financial instruments, in particular for Basel convention
Finalise agreements Implementation of Bamako convention Liability and Compensation Protocol
Complete inventories of hazardous wastes and contaminated sites
18
Recommendations/5 Illegal Trafficking
Improve trans-border controls and policing Strengthen controls on imports of used goods
Radio-Active Wastes Improve exchange of best practice information Strengthen planning and management
capacities Create capacity for environmentally sound
management and storage Identify contaminated sites and develop and
implement remediation strategies
19
Implementation Challenges and Constraints Creation of sufficient capacity for environmentally sound management,
including where appropriate recovery and recycling, of various waste streams across Africa
Progress is constrained by access to finance and technical know how Responsibility for waste management has been vested in
municipalities which are ill-equipped. Creates an impediment for private sector investment in waste management
Effective control over imports is needed to avoid entry of second hand goods and substandard products that contribute to rise in waste volumes
Implementation and enforcement of waste regulations and international conventions is severely constrained by lack of good governance and transparency
Inadequate or limited awareness and appreciation for best practices for environmentally sound management of wastes is a major constraint
Paradigm shift among communities and society at large is needed.
20
Lessons Learned/Best Practices Involve private sector
Access to managerial and technical know how and finance
Focus on income generation Job creation in waste collection, transport, recycling
and recovery Introduce refuse collection charges
Incentivise good waste management practices Bolster practical and attitudinal change
Perceptions are changing, but pace is slow and not yet widespread
Prepare for new challenges E-waste, radio-active wastes
21
Expectations from Africa Support for transfer and dissemination of knowledge and
technology and foster investment in best practices for environmentally sound management of waste
The scale of necessary investment for proper waste management and sanitation is beyond the capacity of African countries
Implementation of international agreements and assistance for building national institutional and human capacities for implementation and enforcement
Conclusion of negotiations and ratification of protocol on liability and compensation for damages under the Basel Convention
Support for inventorying of hazardous and radio-active wastes and sites contaminated by poor waste management
Assistance at level of raising awareness and cultural change for integrated waste management
22
Thank You
Cleaner and Sustainable Production Unit
Environmental Management Branch
PO Box 300, A 1400 Vienna, Austria