NAMIBIA: 250 women trained to collect recyclable waste in three towns

In Namibia, the "Community Recycling Heroes Project" will equip 250 unemployed women to sort and collect recyclable waste by the end of 2023 in the towns of Windhoek, Swakopmund and Otjiwarongo. The initiative is supported by Coca-Cola Namibia Beverages (CCNB).

Launched jointly by Recycle Namibia Forum (RNF), Development Workshop Namibia (DWN) and Coca-Cola Namibia Beverages (CCNB) in September 2023, the “Community Recycling Heroes Project” promotes the transformation of waste into wealth in Namibia. With this in mind, 250 unemployed women have been trained for several days in sorting and collecting solid waste in the southern African country.

The trainees have been selected from the towns of Windhoek, Swakopmund and Otjiwarongo, where household waste and other rubbish litter the streets. “The aim is not only to ensure that recyclable waste is recovered for entry into the collection stream, but also to raise awareness of the fact that this rubbish has value,” said Anita Witt, RNF coordinator, during the launch of the recycling project.

Promoting the circular economy and creating jobs

Until the end of 2023, the trainees will be taught what recyclable waste is (paper, cardboard, food bricks, certain plastics, metal packaging, glass, etc.), as well as techniques for sorting and collecting this waste. Once the training is completed, these 250 women will be put in touch with companies operating in the circular economy. This is part of a pioneering community recycling programme.

“Thanks to this training, the women will be able to create their own wealth by selling the recyclable waste they have collected. The idea is to give them a sense of responsibility”, says Enid Johr, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at CCNB. For the record, the Namibian bottler of Coca-Cola Beverage Africa (CCBA) currently collects 54% of its waste in Namibia with the support of 18 local collectors.

As well as reducing unemployment, the Community Recycling Heroes Project will help to reduce solid waste pollution in Windhoek, Swakopmund and Otjiwarongo. Similar training sessions are planned for 2024 in other towns in Namibia. For its part, the Namibian government is investing in mobile waste recycling units. At least four have already been installed since 2019, notably in the municipalities of Divundu and Okaukuejo, where urbanisation has increased waste production.