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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

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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

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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

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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

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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Information on types, sources, composition and volumes of various wastes is incomplete and often outdated

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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Thank You

Cleaner and Sustainable Production Unit

Environmental Management Branch

PO Box 300, A 1400 Vienna, Austria

R.VanBerkel@unido.orgwww.unido.org/cp