Recycling hazardous wastes in Namibia
Glass, tin cans, plastics … these are well known as recyclables, and Namibia is
making great progress to reduce the volumes of materials that go into landfills. But
what about seriously dangerous substances like used car oil and dead car batteries –
can these be recycled? Yes they can, and like other materials, the achievements in
Namibia are something to be proud of.
A dead car battery – an
environmental hazard with
its potent acid and lead. But
systems are in place to
recycle these wastes
profitably.
All companies that sell new
car batteries should give you
at least N$20 for the return
of your old one. Insist on it!
Used oil can be discarded
into large tanks put out by
the City of Windhoek, so
that people don’t pour this
highly poisonous substance
down the drain or into the
ground. There is one at the
Bulk Water and Waste
Water Headquarters,
Pullman Street. For others,
phone CoW’s Pollution
Control Inspector, Mr
Salatiel Kalimbo, 2902903.
The 275,000 vehicles in Namibia, as well as the many ships plying our coastline and
anchoring in Walvis Bay, generate literally millions of litres of waste oil.
Additionally, the country accumulates over 1,000 tonnes of dead batteries every year.
What happens to all this toxic stuff? In the worst case, which is not uncommon, the
wastes are simply dumped. At sea, on the ground, into sewers, and into domestic
waste bins. A “don’t-care” attitude, and ignorance of how these poisonous substances
will kill plants and animals, are to blame.
Yet it is not all bad news, and there are significant developments in Namibia that are
helping to reduce pollution and to grow the recycling industry.
Car batteries last about three years on average, so that amounts to just over 90,000
dead batteries produced in Namibia every year. PowerBat, the Namibian arm of
PowerTech in South Africa, is currently the biggest player in this market, and sends
about 120 tonnes of waste batteries to SA per quarter. They are destined for Fry’s
Metals, a large smelter in Gauteng, that pays ~R3/kg for the scrap. This is clearly a
win-win: the environment is saved from that much toxic lead and sulphuric acid, and
business thrives on the activity, creating employment, improving skills, and building
the economy.
The situation with waste oils is equally encouraging. About 80% of waste oils are
recycled, mainly through collection that is done by a few companies. Wesco, the
largest, has an organised system of collection tanks throughout the country, placed at
garages and workshops where large quantities are generated. The wastes go through a
simple cleaning and filtering process in Walvis Bay that produces Light Furnace Oil,
suitable for using in boilers and burners. The sector has developed to the extent that a
new power station to be established at Arandis next year will be fired almost entirely
by waste oils.
Where do we need improvements in the existing systems? Administrative obstacles
drive people to find easier (and environmentally more damaging) solutions. For
example, export of hazardous waste is prohibited unless the authorities in both the
sending and receiving countries agree to the movement, and issue permits
accordingly. Delays, mistakes, poor communications and unfamiliarity make the
system between Namibia and South Africa very inefficient. The Africa Institute,
which focuses on the Basel Convention that governs hazardous waste movements
worldwide, could help to streamline the administrative systems, and build skills so
that the permitting systems work better.
Recycling of hazardous substances is growing, driven by their economic potential and
the keen entrepreneurs who have grabbed a business opportunity, and growing
awareness. Prevention of pollution requires a two-pronged approach: a ‘carrot’ or
incentive for people to dispose of their wastes responsibly, complemented with a
‘stick’ or legal deterrent that punishes wrong-doers. At the moment this second
component is lacking, or at best, ineffective. All the more reason to give full support
to the recycling efforts that have been established so far.
You should be paid about N$20 for returning a dead car battery to a battery seller. If
he doesn’t offer any cash in return for the old one, you should complain to the
manager. The more the ‘cash-back’ system is rolled out (prompted by consumer
pressure), the better for us all. Old batteries returned to the distribution warehouses
will be collected and fully recycled.
If you have serviced your car yourself and need to dispose of the waste oil, ask your
local mechanic if he has proper storage facilities to accept your oil. The City of
Windhoek has large drums for use by the public – contact the number above to find
out more.
John Pallett
Recycle Namibia Forum