Oshikuku plans to relocate landfill to safer area
Safety of residents important
The environment ministry has noted there is an urgent need to improve urban waste management in Namibia.
The Oshikuku town council has identified a new landfill site for better environmental care and the safety of residents.
This was confirmed by town spokesperson John Siloiso, who told Namibian Sun on Tuesday that they had initially identified other areas but struggled to secure funding or approval.
Siloiso said the decision to relocate the landfill to a new site is not a new project but has been dragging on since 2018.
"Initially, we had three suggested places. But one of them, the residents, they were not keen on the spot. For the second one, council didn’t have money to compensate those residing there. The current spot identified could work, although it is still within the jurisdiction of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority. We will work something out together,” he said.
Unhealthy
Siloiso said council placed the issue back on the agenda in August to identify possible solutions in order to resolve the matter.
Last month, urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni asked the Uukwambi Traditional Authority to assist by providing land.
Oshikuku has faced a serious challenge with the current dumpsite located in close proximity to the inhabitants.
Uutoni highlighted the challenges faced by residents living close to dumpsites.
Not satisfactory
Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the current waste management situation in Namibia is not satisfactory.
Muyunda said many settlements, villages, towns and municipalities do not have proper landfills and are instead using dumpsites for waste disposal.
“We are aware of efforts from some local authorities trying to find different ways of disposing of residential and domestic waste, but still, this remains a major constraint. There is scope for improvement in waste disposal by our local authorities. There is an urgent need to improve waste management in Namibia,” he said.
Muyunda added that the Environmental Management Act (EMA) highlights waste management as one of the essential aspects of environmental management in Namibia.
He said EMA provides the strategic basis for waste management and requires that all public and private institutions put in place effective waste management systems to avoid damage to the environment and negative human health impacts emanating from waste.
Guidance in place
In 2019, the ministry launched the national solid waste management strategy. The strategy is aimed at ensuring that future directions, regulations, funding and action plans to improve solid waste management are properly coordinated and consistent with national policy and to facilitate cooperation between stakeholders.
“It offers a practical step-by-step approach to improving overall waste management. It aims to strengthen the institutional, organisational and legal framework for solid waste management, including the development of human and infrastructural capacities to manage waste,” Muyunda said.
This was confirmed by town spokesperson John Siloiso, who told Namibian Sun on Tuesday that they had initially identified other areas but struggled to secure funding or approval.
Siloiso said the decision to relocate the landfill to a new site is not a new project but has been dragging on since 2018.
"Initially, we had three suggested places. But one of them, the residents, they were not keen on the spot. For the second one, council didn’t have money to compensate those residing there. The current spot identified could work, although it is still within the jurisdiction of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority. We will work something out together,” he said.
Unhealthy
Siloiso said council placed the issue back on the agenda in August to identify possible solutions in order to resolve the matter.
Last month, urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni asked the Uukwambi Traditional Authority to assist by providing land.
Oshikuku has faced a serious challenge with the current dumpsite located in close proximity to the inhabitants.
Uutoni highlighted the challenges faced by residents living close to dumpsites.
Not satisfactory
Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the current waste management situation in Namibia is not satisfactory.
Muyunda said many settlements, villages, towns and municipalities do not have proper landfills and are instead using dumpsites for waste disposal.
“We are aware of efforts from some local authorities trying to find different ways of disposing of residential and domestic waste, but still, this remains a major constraint. There is scope for improvement in waste disposal by our local authorities. There is an urgent need to improve waste management in Namibia,” he said.
Muyunda added that the Environmental Management Act (EMA) highlights waste management as one of the essential aspects of environmental management in Namibia.
He said EMA provides the strategic basis for waste management and requires that all public and private institutions put in place effective waste management systems to avoid damage to the environment and negative human health impacts emanating from waste.
Guidance in place
In 2019, the ministry launched the national solid waste management strategy. The strategy is aimed at ensuring that future directions, regulations, funding and action plans to improve solid waste management are properly coordinated and consistent with national policy and to facilitate cooperation between stakeholders.
“It offers a practical step-by-step approach to improving overall waste management. It aims to strengthen the institutional, organisational and legal framework for solid waste management, including the development of human and infrastructural capacities to manage waste,” Muyunda said.
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