CSE to work with Swaziland on its waste management policy and practice

A meeting was jointly organised by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Swaziland Environmental Authrority (SEA) in Ezulwini, Swaziland on 16th November 2017. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss integrated policy and the adoption of first pilot on decentralised waste management. The meeting was attended by the officials of SEA, Ministry of Environment and all the 8 urban local governments of Swaziland. Altogether, 28 participants attended the programme.

Sessions

The following sessions were taken during the meeting:

• Opening remarks and introductory session: Isaac G Dladla, Acting Executive Director, SEA, briefly addressed the importance of association between CSE and SEA and also highlighted that this is the first bilateral co-operation in Swaziland. He further stated that the issue of waste is one of the top agenda for SEA and the integrated waste management policy could be the solution in the country.

• About CSE and its association with Global South: Sonia Henam, Deputy Programme Manager from CSE briefed the participants about CSE’s work and the association between CSE and SEA.

• Existing challenges concerning waste management in Swaziland and the need for an integrated policy: Swati Singh Sambyal, Programme Manager, CSE highlighted the existing challenges concerning waste management in Swaziland.

• Integrated policy on waste management for Swaziland: Ms Sambyal also described how an integrated policy on waste management is the need of the hour and why Swaziland needs to adopt this policy. 

• Adoption of decentralised waste management systems in Swaziland: In this session, Ms Sambyal presented the proposed decentralised pilot plan for 200 households to the participants and discussed the location of the site, the pilot decentralised system, its process, economics, role and responsibility of the concerned authorities and different case studies from Zanzibar and India. 

Major outcome: 
Matsapha and Mbabane town councils have agreed to adopt the pilot and are keen to replicate this model at city level. CSE team conducted two training programmes, each for Matsapha and Mbabane town councils on 17th November and 22nd November respectively.

1. Policy

• The integrated waste management policy paper was presented to the Minister of Environment on 23rd November, 2017 by CSE team. SEA shall work in association with the Ministry to get it approved in the Cabinet. The DG, SEA further requested all participating town councils to look for adoption of this policy guideline as their local bylaws.

• Matsapha and Mbabane (capital city) town councils are in the process of framing their local bylaws that have emphasis on segregation, recycling and are based on the similar principles as the draft bylaws prepared by CSE. The town councils will have further deliberation with their consultants to utilise our draft bylaws.

2. Pilot project

• A) Matsapha Town Council (MTC)

• MTC has agreed to start the decentralized pilot project for 200 households. The Town Council is already composting waste from vegetable and fruit markets and can upscale the same under the pilot. The Matsapha Town has chosen Mobeni Area which is a residential society for the pilot.  The council has further requested to do an official launch of the pilot sometime in January or February (beginning of next financial year) at a bigger scale, however, the work shall resume from November end itself.

• On 17th November 2017, a one day workshop was organized by MTC. It was attended by the waste collectors, officials from the MTC and SEA. The objective of the workshop was to capacitate the municipality on decentralized waste management plan and how to execute it. The Swaziland National Housing Board and MTC have agreed to work together in ‘Waste Segregation for Clean Swaziland’ mission with assistance from CSE and plan to ensure that all the 800 households in Mobeni region of MTC segregate.

• On 20th November 2017, mapping and propagation in households was done in Mobeni along with officials and staff of Matsapha Town Council, Swaziland Environmental Authority and CSE team. Over 130 households have been mapped as of now.

• B) Mbabane Town Council

• Mbabane Town Council was also keen to adopt this pilot and have requested CSE team to train their workers. As a result, a meeting was held on 22nd November to train their staff.