‘In our country, rapid urbanisation, combined with increased economic activity, has led to a substantial growth in waste volumes,’ acknowledged Mozambique’s Secretary of State for Environmental Land, Gustavo Dgedge. This is a scenario that the government wants to reverse with a 24 million euro project, investing in three recycling infrastructures.
‘In our country, rapid urbanisation, combined with increased economic activity, has led to a substantial growth in waste volumes,’ acknowledged Mozambique’s Secretary of State for the Environment, Gustavo Dgedge, when he presented the second phase of the ValoRe programme in Maputo, which will run until 2029.
‘Today, we estimate that at least 4.2 million tonnes of waste are generated in Mozambique every year, with over 98 to 99% of this waste being deposited in uncontrolled dumps, while the remaining 1 to 2% is reused, recycled, through informal networks,’ he said.
This waste reaches a record high in Maputo city, with around half a kilogram produced every day by each inhabitant of the capital, most of which is burnt in rubbish dumps, explained the national director for the environment, Guilhermina Amurane, at the same ceremony.
‘With this programme, we want only what has no value to go to landfill (…),’ explained Amurane, guaranteeing that it will also “provide employment for those who currently live off rubbish”.
The ValoRe sustainable waste management programme was launched by the Mozambican government in 2019 to increase the amount of urban waste reused, recycled or treated in the country.
The new phase, which includes funding of 18.4 million euros from the Mitigation Action Facility climate fund – financed by the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union, says Lusa, will make it possible to create a ‘regulatory and financial environment’ for investments in sustainable waste treatment and recycling infrastructures, as well as value chains to promote recovery and reuse, using public-private partnerships.
Forbes África Lusófona
