The United Development Programme has supported the the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, for the  Validation of an Integrated (Solid and Hazardous) Waste Management Bill, in a workshop in Port-Louis today.

An Integrated waste management Legislative Framework is being developed to provide strategic guidance towards sustainable management practices of solid and hazardous waste through a circular economy approach focusing on material recovery for sustainable waste management. This new legislative framework will benefit the people of Mauritius from different social strata given that effective waste management is of prime importance.

A turning point for sustainable waste management

Representing UNDP during the validation workshop was, Ms. Tanzila Sankoh, the Acting Head of the Environment Unit, who thanked the Government of Mauritius for the trust placed in UNDP to contribute to this important project which will be a turning point in sustainable waste management. She stated that “To achieve environmentally sound management of waste, there is a strong need to develop adequate regulatory,  implement policies and programmes and establish enforcement infrastructure to ensure that waste can be managed in an efficient manner."

The Honourable Kavydass Ramano, Minister of the Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, emphasized that : “the Government is moving towards a circular economy model in the solid waste sector as evidenced by the numerous projects being implemented by the Solid Waste Management Division including, amongst others, the setting-up of civic amenity centres, the processing of used tyres for recycling, the commissioning of two feasibility studies on an end-of-life vehicles recycling facility and a biogas plant for anaerobic digestion of organic wastes.”

The workshop, held in the presence of representatives of the various ministries, experts and members of the civil society, also included presentations on various parts of the draft Bill.