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Introducing low-cost technology to improve PET collection in Addis Ababa

Written by Support on 23. August 2021. Posted in Countries, Ethiopia, Uncategorized.

Studies indicate that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish. To sustainably counter the negative impacts of plastic on our environment and health, action is needed on all levels, with major improvements to waste management and recycling practices being pivotal to counter the current trends.

In Addis Ababa, plastic accounts for 15% of the total waste. PET, used mainly for water and soda bottles, makes up 41% of the total plastic waste generated in the city. Plastic pollution is a common problem in the city, and drainage channels are often clogged with plastic, including many PET bottles, increasing the risk for floodings.

Collected PET plastic at one of the collector association’s working stations, near the new stadium in Addis Ababa
Copyright: GIZ

Improving the collection and recycling of used plastics can contribute to alleviating plastic pollution in the city. However, many factors impede the efficiency of plastic collection and recycling. Among them are high transportation costs of unbaled plastics, a lack of space for waste collectors to sort already collected waste, as well as no access to electricity, which would allow collectors to scale up their operations by using baling machines.

Manual baling machines to improve PET collection

To counter these challenges, NatuReS has partnered up with Irish Aid and the Addis Ababa Solid Waste Management Agency (SWMA) on a project to design and pilot manual baling machines. The aim is to improve PET collection. Baling PET significantly lowers the costs to transport plastic to processors. At the same time, waste collectors receive a 40% premium when selling baled PET. The manual baling machine, which is cheaper to procure and operate than its electric counterpart, will incentivize waste collectors to collect more PET, contributing to cleaner streets while creating additional employment opportunities in the plastic value chain.

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Dr. Eshetu Lemma, General Manager of the Addis Ababa Solid Waste Management Agency, and James Njeru, NatuReS Country Coordinator Ethiopia (from left to right)
Copyright: GIZ

Social Accountability for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Lusaka, Zambia

Written by s.mutafya on 12. August 2021. Posted in Countries, Zambia.

WASH Forum in Lusaka’s George Compound hosted by LuWSI and Village Water Zambia

It is estimated that over 70% of people living in informal settlements in Lusaka continue to be disenfranchised when it comes to access to adequate WASH and solid waste management services. Although various interventions to tackle this problem have been implemented, the importance of cooperation within communities and with duty bearers in taking responsibility for these services cannot be underscored. Maintenance, appropriate use and awareness of WASH and solid waste services are key to improve the situation in the long run. In short, communities must develop social accountability for such services. This fosters good governance and ultimately improves WASH services for all.

Access to safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene services is important for the wellbeing of communities.
Copyright: GIZ/Jesper Anhede

To promote this cooperation, a virtual Water Sanitation and Hygiene Forum for social accountability took place on July 29th. The forum was hosted by the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI) secretariat, in collaboration with Village Water Zambia (VWZ), a non-governmental organization operating in Zambia and member of LuWSI. VWZ strives to improve access to WASH services in George compound in Lusaka’s Matero Constituency, one of the city’s biggest informal settlements.

WASH Forum for social accountability in Lusaka’s George Compound

The purpose of the forum was twofold: First, to appraise issues around WASH services, solid waste management and drainage problems in George Compound. And second, to get insights into plans for improving the WASH status quo in George from the Members of Parliaments’ (MP) perspective. The forum culminated in a social contract, which was ratified by each of the prospective MPs as well as the people of George compound. In the contract, they assure their commitment to address these issues and implement the discussed plans, once they should be elected in the upcoming general elections.

As NatuReS, we believe in the power of partnership and collaboration for economic growth and mutual accountability to strengthen governance and sustain the wellbeing of vulnerable communities such as in Lusaka’s George Compound.

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Author: Sonile Mutafya, NatuReS Advisor Zambia

Women as water stewards in Zambia

Written by s.mutafya on 6. August 2021. Posted in Countries, Zambia.

Income diversification for economic wellbeing and ecosystem preservation

No single actor can improve water security on its own. While water shortages, flooding or degrading water quality affect everyone, solutions can only stem from joint action. Also, water security must envision not only the water source itself, but the whole ecosystem within a catchment. Cardinal to any solution is the role women play in the stewardship of water and other natural resources. This is because women not only take care of the water supply at their homes, do the cooking or the laundry. They are also strongly involved in economic activities like farming or production.

Water stewardship beyond water supply and sanitation

The Chambeshi Water Security Partnership promotes the participation of women in water stewardship further than water supply and sanitation in their homes. Instead, the partnership supports women in participating more strongly in the governing of their natural resources. It enables them to progress in diverse economic activities such as beekeeping, aquaculture, agriculture, tree planting and selling seedlings.

Beekeeping instead of charcoal production

Diversified income opportunities make them less dependent on traditional practices like charcoal production, which damages the forest and the whole ecosystem, thereby affecting water quality and quantity in the catchment. Charcoal production, by damaging the ecosystem on which people make a living in the catchment, would also not sustainably generate income for the women in the long run.

Sara Chisha and Joan Sampa set up a beehive in a forest within the Chambeshi Catchment.
Copyright: GIZ

Instead, Sara Chisha and Joan Sampa are now setting up beehives in the forest. Selling honey is a new economic activity for them as they previously made a living producing charcoal. By finding alternative sources of income that preserve the health of the forest, also their economic wellbeing is safeguarded.

Sarah and Joan haven’t achieved this alone. Joint action from various actors of the Chambeshi Water Security Partnership, supported by NatuReS, set the scene for this change process. Activities carried out by the partnership include trainings of community members on beekeeping, financing of beekeeping equipment and the establishment of the Twatampako Women’s Club, created to support women in commercializing their products.

Women maintaining furrows of the Milundu stream, which are used for the irrigation of various crops that sustain the people of Lukupa Village. The stream passes through three villages with a total population of 3908 inhabitants.
Copyright: GIZ

These activities highlight that women’s management of natural resources goes far beyond collection and use of water at their homes, revealing them as agents of change in the governance and protection of natural resources.

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Author: Sonile Mutafya, NatuReS Advisor Zambia

Plastic banks in Gulu City for increased recycling

Written by Support on 4. August 2021. Posted in Uncategorized.

Innovative solutions for increased community participation in plastic waste recycling

Gulu is a plastic waste sink – plastic comes in but never gets out, because recycling options are limited. Since the city is a six-hour drive from the nearest recycling plant, the high transportation costs make it economically unattractive to send low-value plastic waste there for recycling. Hence, the plastic is either buried in an unlined landfill, burned or littered on the street, where it blocks drainage channels, pollutes water sources, and forms stagnant waters which are a threat to public health.

The Gulu Integrated Catchment Management Partnership aims at reducing the amount of solid waste entering the environment and securing the quality and quantity of the city’s main water source. Takataka Plastics as the main private sector partner upcycles waste, both organic and plastics, into high-quality, affordable products. The company contributes to reducing the amount of waste in the streets of Gulu, while creating jobs, as well as safeguarding and stimulating investments.

Increased community participation in plastic recycling

Among the innovative solutions for increased community participation in plastic recycling, Takataka, with support from the KFW’s Integrated Programme to Improve the Living Conditions in Gulu, has come up with a low-cost sustainable solution: the bottle banks. The barred boxes offer an opportunity for community members to easily sort plastic from other waste categories. People simply deposit plastics they would have otherwise thrown away with other waste into the banks.

plastic bank in Gulu — Plastic bank at Gulu’s main market.
Copyright: Takataka Plastics/Peter Okwoko

The banks are mostly placed in public places like schools, hospitals, police stations and markets. A cart belongs to each of them. When the banks are full, young people empty them and use the carts to deliver the plastic to Takataka Plastics in exchange for cash. The youths are paid according to the kilograms they deliver. Currently, there are only six plastic banks in the city. Throughout the course of the partnership, more mechanisms like the banks will be implemented. Increased community participation in solid waste management is essential to reduce pollution in Gulu and protect the city’s water sources.

Man carrying cart to transport plastic waste — Carts making transportation of plastic waste from the collection centres to the recycling plant easier.
Copyright: Takataka Plastics/Ochan Clifford

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