In a bold move to mark World Environment Day, Eswatini has scored a major win. Prime Minister His Excellency Russell Mmiso Dlamini announced a USD 5.4 million (E100 million) investment from the Global Environment Facility (GEF – a significant boost aimed at addressing three of the most harmful waste threats of our time: plastic waste, healthcare waste, and electronic waste.

This landmark five-year project, titled "Reduced Risks to Human Health and the Environment through Reduction of POPs and U-POPs in Eswatini", will officially launch in 2025 and run through to 2030. It’s a forward-looking initiative that goes beyond awareness, delivering real, measurable change at every level, from households and health facilities to communities and businesses.

Spearheaded by the Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA) with oversight from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project aligns perfectly with World Environment Day 2025, themed "Ending Plastic Pollution". But this isn’t just about slogans – it's about building systems, infrastructure, and community-driven solutions to eliminate pollution at its source.

At the commemoration event held at the Royal Villas Hotel, Ezulwini, the Prime Minister, represented by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Appollo Maphalala, described the initiative as a significant milestone in Eswatini’s environmental journey.

"On behalf of His Majesty’s Government let me thank UNDP for the excellent work done in ensuring that the country benefits from the resources available from GEF in supporting our efforts to ensure a clean and safe Eswatini,” he said. “This will help build on other several UN lead initiatives in the country to address climate change and environmental degradation.”

Highlighting the urgency, Maphalala noted that nearly half of Eswatini’s waste is openly burned, releasing dangerous pollutants like Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (U-POPs) into the atmosphere. With only 17% of waste formally collected, the need for efficient and inclusive waste systems has never been greater. Plastic waste alone makes up 17.4% of Eswatini’s total waste stream.

“Addressing this issue is crucial for environmental recovery and ensuring that vulnerable communities and informal workers are not left behind in our transition to sustainable practices,” he said.

UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Henrik Franklin echoed these concerns, stressing the deeper significance of the project. “This initiative embodies the true spirit of World Environment Day 2025, in that it does not just highlight the dangers of plastic pollution, it delivers real solutions that empower communities, strengthen systems, and make sustainability a way of life."

He reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to remain a proud partner to the Government of Eswatini, firmly believing that environmental protection is not separate from development; it is the foundation of it. “Together, this partnership is building a future where people and planet thrive, side by side,” he said. 

The Project Will Deliver:

1. Household-level plastic waste sorting and collection, beginning in at least two regions;

2. Non-burn treatment technologies for healthcare waste, eliminating toxic incineration;

3. Phase-out of mercury in the health sector;

4. Support for green businesses and recycling enterprises—especially those led by women and youth; and,

5. A national electronics take-back programme to reduce toxic e-waste

6. Policy reforms and enforcement systems to ensure long-term sustainability.

The event brought together delegates from SADC, government, development partners, civil society, and youth. High-level speakers echoed the urgency and shared a unified call to action.

Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Hon. Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, represented by Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, Hon. Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, reflected on plastic’s double-edged nature – its convenience and its environmental cost.

“Plastics are making their way into the food we eat and the water we drink,” she said, adding that the government is taking the following measures to walk the talk towards the elimination of plastic pollution:

1. The UNDP-supported Phatsa Sakho Nawe campaign, encouraging shoppers to embrace reusable shopping bags;

2. Advancing the implementation of the Control of Plastic Bag Regulations;

3. Advancing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to make producers and importers accountable for plastic waste.

UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira, praised the youth’s engagement, particularly through the Mock Parliament. “You are debating the global plastic treaty because it will affect your future. You are writing a Youth Declaration because your voices matter. And I assure you, we will take that declaration and make sure it travels to SADC, and to every forum where decisions about your future are being made.”

The EEA Board Chairperson, represented by Dr. Sicelo Sacolo, highlighted the escalating environmental and economic risks. “It will threaten biodiversity, endanger wildlife, and compromise human health as toxic substances and microplastics infiltrate our food chains. The economic toll will rise sharply, from high cost of cleanup to lost tourism revenue and overstretched waste management systems.”

SADC Representative, Mr. Cliff Chivanga, applauded Eswatini for initiating discussions around a ban on single-use plastics—a clear sign of political will and leadership. “At the SADC level, initiatives like the Great Green Wall, the Climate Change Strategy, Green and Circular Economy, Blue Economy and Marine Pollution Control initiatives offer promising pathways to address plastic pollution holistically, promoting sustainable resource use and ecosystem restoration,” he said.