TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GREEN JOBS, WEALTH CREATION AND IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS Nature Uganda, Public Lecture 7th December 2017, Uganda Museum, Kampala

Key issues, questions and concerns This presentation attempts to answer the following questions: What is the current orientation of waste management in the country? What are they key drivers of the changing waste profile and its implications? What is sustainable waste management and the opportunities it presents for Uganda’s social economic transformation? What needs to be done to tap these opportunities? What are the best local and international experiences to learn from?

Understanding the Orientation of Waste Management Waste is a complex phenomenon with no universally agreed definition Waste is regarded as a source of pollution justifying international and national laws for regulating its disposal rather than addressing and preventing its generation NEA’s approach to waste is skewed towards pollution mitigation focused on disposal rather than viewing it as an asset or resource for production and wealth creation Traditionally waste management has not been holistic and is more inclined to the “end of pipe” solutions concentrating at the last stage of disposal. There is a gradual shift from 'end-of pipe' solutions that focus on waste disposal, to a source based approach that is aimed at 'life-cycle' analysis.

Understanding the Orientation of Waste Management Efforts in managing waste in Uganda have been skewed towards solid waste management at the expense of other types of wastes notably; Waste water or liquid waste and Gaseous waste that require equal attention as well NWSC systems and connections in Kampala serves approximately only 6% of the households i.e. estimate 10,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day. The current waste water treatment processes do not integrate pollution reduction, energy and nutrient recovery from agro- process waste waters.

The Changing Waste profile and its Implications The composition and volume of waste in Uganda is changing rapidly driven by: a rapid urbanization rate estimated at 6% p.a. a high population growth rate (3.2% p.a.) the changing structure of the Ugandan economy characterized by the increasing levels of industrialization, rapid technological advancement, infrastructural development (housing, roads, energy and telecommunications) increasing volumes of trade the changing production and consumption patterns and lifestyles that generate vast quantities of waste

The Changing Waste profile and its Implications Type of Waste 1990 2001 2006 2014 Organics (green waste/food waste) 88.5 83.5 73.1 72.0 Plastics 1.6 11.8 12.4 Glass 0.9 1.8 2.0 Metal 3.1 2.6 0.4 Textiles 0.5 1.0 1.5 Paper & board 4.0 8.0 10.6 10.2 Tree cuttings 2.9 1.3 Total 100

The Problem

The Changing Waste profile and its Implications In view of the on-going social-economic transformation the new waste profile includes: Electronic waste and chemical waste, Oil and gas waste, Nuclear waste and plastic waste, Paper waste and industrial waste, Metallic waste and waste water, Construction debris, Medical and health care waste Organic waste

The Changing Waste profile and its Implications The increasingly complex and hazardous waste profile is unfolding against; Limited institutional, financial and technical capacity to effectively and efficiently manage the increasing volumes of waste being generated. Only approx. 28,000 tons (40%) of the waste generated in Kampala is collected and delivered to the landfill per month. What happens to the 60%? High social, health, environment, economic and political costs to mostly the urban poor Lack of urban physical planning Low prioritization of waste management during planning and budgeting processes

The Changing Waste profile and its Implications Rising costs of waste management especially to urban authorities Poor waste disposal culture and lack of sorting at source without colour coding of garbage containers to differentiate types of wastes Rising trend of plastic waste generation e.g. from 1.6% in 1990 to 12.4% in 2014 Dominance of organic waste, though falling in percentage terms it is still very high in quantitative terms Increasingly dynamic and complex waste profile now includes e- waste

Rethinking the Waste Concept: From Waste to Wealth Traditionally, waste is viewed as an environment and health problem and therefore a cost to society Waste management in Uganda tend towards traditional than innovative emphasize the end of the pipe approach (disposal) rather than life cycle and waste value chain management approaches including waste recycling or waste minimization. The dynamics driving waste generation are set to continue as the country moves towards middle income status Increasing per capita waste generation rates (estimated at 0.9kgs –1.1kgs per day in Kampala) All these demand for a new thinking at what is traditionally regarded as waste, Is what we call waste indeed waste?

Rethinking the Waste Concept: From Waste to Wealth The rethinking calls for Waste to become Wealth, Refuse to become Resource and Trash to become Cash (UNEP). the rethinking views waste as opportunities with potential to offer solutions to some of our sustainable development challenges e.g. the increasing scarcity of raw material inputs energy to fuel the growing industry and population, the urgent need to create jobs for the youths finding new streams of income and wealth. NB: The new outlook is about eliminating the very concept of ‘waste’ and recognizing that everything has a value

Rethinking Waste to Wealth: the Problem While rethinking the concept of waste is the way to go: It is yet to be conceptualized at policy and decision making levels No frameworks, guidelines for the implementation and scaling up of tested and proven waste to wealth creation models. No apex body to support, coordinate and pilot waste to wealth interventions No well-organized associations of key actors in waste to wealth ventures to defend and promote their interests. As a result, waste to wealth projects and initiatives are largely; informal, not commercialized, still small and weak, prone to many risks do not have access to favourable financing opportunities and enabling technologies.

Waste to Wealth in the National Development Frameworks In line with Uganda Vision 2040, NDP II theme is about strengthening competitiveness for sustainable wealth creation, employment and inclusive growth. One of the key interventions towards NDPII targets is Sustainable Waste Management, through: Promotion of green industry and climate smart industrial initiatives; Sustainable Consumption and Production patterns Improvement of urban safety, security and sanitation Sustainable use and management of electronic and hazardous waste. The Uganda Green Growth Development Strategy (UGGDS) NB: for waste to contribute to sustainable wealth creation, it necessitates harnessing the opportunities generated from innovative waste management practices. Rethinking the Waste Concept: From Waste to Wealth

Harnessing Opportunities for Waste to Wealth Source Separation Creates employment, generates additional income and provides raw materials to waste traders and reduces wastes collected. Waste collection Increasing willingness of individuals, households and businesses to pay waste and refuse collectors. Increasing private sector investment in waste collection Waste to Energy Effluent treatment Plants in Uganda Breweries and Nile Breweries, and Kampala City Abattoir Kampala City Abattoir generates on average about 10 to 15 cubic metres of biogas daily. 60 cubic metres of biogas can run about 15 security lights, 15 deep freezers and 15 refrigerators at the abattoir thinking the Waste Concept: From Waste to Wealth

Harnessing Opportunities: Waste to Energy Charcoal Briquettes Charcoal briquettes can be made from waste materials and burn longer than traditional charcoal. They are easy to make on a small or large scale, can be a source of income generation for the family

Harnessing Opportunities for Waste to Wealth The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Compositing project by NEMA The MSW plants have created employment for average of 22 but with capacity of 40 workers per site directly employed by the plants (each earning Ugx120,000-140,000 per month), More employment is created indirectly such as in organic farming, and generate over an average of 2,220 Kgs of compost manure per day per CDM plant (about 26 metric tons per day from the 12 sites).Rethinking the Waste Concept: From Waste to Wealth

Status of Municipal Solid Waste Compositing Project No Municipality Waste generated (kgs)/day Waste collected (kgs)/day Compost Revenue Ugx /month Number employed 1. Mukono 270,000-240,000 65,000-45,000 1,500 300,000-500,000 32 2. Jinja 250,000-200,000 50,000-80,000 2,000-3,000 300,000-400,000 20 3 Mbale 150,000-130,000 70,000-55,000 3,000-5,000 18 4. Soroti 100,000-90,000 45,000-40,000 1,000 100,000 21  5. Lira 42,000-40,000 17 6. Fort Portal 130,000-120,000 40,000-60,000 1,500-2,000 250,000-300,000 30 7. Kasese 110,000-100,000 35,000-40,000 1,000-1,300 8. Mbarara 200,000-170,000 50,000-60,000 1,000-1,500 200,000-300,000 9. Kabale 120,000-100,000 45,000-50,000 4,000-5,000 10. Arua 25 11. Hoima 12. Masindi

CDM Project Activities Sieving and Bagging Compost Sorting onsite Demo-Garden Harvest Composting Operations

Harnessing Opportunities: Recovery and Recycling The Recovery and Recycling model creates production and consumption systems in which everything that used to be considered waste is revived for other uses. Companies either recover end-of-life products to recapture and reuse valuable material, energy and components or they reclaim waste and by-products from a production process. Desired waste management model should go through hierarchy of processes that result into maximum recovery and minimum disposal wastes of at the landfill or disposal sites.

Waste Management Hierarchy Most preferred; less wastes are disposed- off at the landfill Rethinking the Waste Concept: From Waste to Wealth Prevention ( at source sorting (households, industries, farm land, public facilities etc) Reduction ( within production and consumption processes- Sustainable Consumption and Production-SCP) Recycling (within production, distribution and consumption processes) Recovery (within production processes) Disposal Least preferred; most wastes are disposed- off at the landfill

Lessons from International Experiences EcoPost, Kenya Manufactures fencing posts from recycled plastic waste collected from dumpsites and garbage cans. Produced over 10,000 fencing posts and has created more than 500 jobs (directly and indirectly) and generated more than US$ 150,000 in annual revenues. This innovative idea of converting plastic waste into fencing posts is estimated to have saved nearly 250 hectares of Kenya’s forests which would have been destroyed to produce timber.

Lessons from International Experiences Repurpose School Bags, South Africa This green initiative provides recycled low-cost school bags to hundreds of school children in local communities in South Africa. Collects and recycles plastic waste into school bags for local disadvantaged students. The “upcycled” plastic bags have a solar panel in the flap, which charges as the children walk to and back from school. The bags also have strips of reflective material, an added safety design to make the children more visible to traffic in the early hours. The charged solar panels are used to provide lighting at night. Students can use this light to do their homework and study instead of using candles.

Challenges of Waste to Wealth Projects Limited access to technologies to convert waste into wealth projects e.g. Gasification technologies Biogas technologies Landfill gas recovery technologies High costs Commercial viability Poor waste management practices Limited segregation of waste at source Limited technical expertise Absence of waste to wealth regulatory frameworks Limited focus on recycling and reuse Some Waste to wealth are largely informal and illegal business. Absence of standard operational guidelines and rules to streamline the activities of the various actors

Sustainable Waste Management Innovations Create Partnerships in waste management along the entire waste management vale chain: Public Private Partnership (PPP), Local level partnerships Local firms partnering with international companies. NGO, Public, Community Partnerships Financial instruments Enhance access to affordable funding sources to promote Concessional Loans for Investment in Waste to Energy Generation Infrastructure and Technologies Grants Fiscal instruments Offer tax incentives on Waste-to-wealth Equipment and Facilities

Sustainable Waste Management Innovations Promote sustainable consumption and production patterns Restructure the National Environment Fund to accommodate financial demands of prospective investments in waste management Enhance capacity to engage in public-private partnership (PPP) schemes particularly of the informal sector including strengthening the managerial, technical and organizational abilities of urban authorities Carry out feasibility studies of the various waste to wealth initiatives and strengthen research

Conclusion A holistic life cycle approach to waste management creates opportunities for employment, income and wealth creation along the entire waste value chain Innovative waste management practices are green initiatives that optimize resource use efficiency, create green jobs and contribute to inclusive growth A skilled and effective business sector has emerged  in social enterprises, mainly founded by the poor and increasingly young people in urban communities, that derive wealth from the provision of waste management services. They need our support.

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