RDJ Briefing - July 2022 by RDJ Briefing

ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY Facts & Analysis

JULY, 2022

RECYCLING "Waste Not, Want Not"

SCAN & SHARE A COPY

The R D J B riefing and it's analysis is writt e n a n d a u t h o r e d t h r o u g h coll a b o r a tion with RDJ Consulting Service s C C b a s e d i n W i n d h o e k , N a m i b i a .

Facts & Analysis

Did You Know?

04 05

Can recycling be Economical?

Economy at Large

Oil & Gas

11 12 17 19 26 29 31 33 36 38 39

From The Editor

Synthetic Fuels Mining Electricity Water The Environment Roads & Transport Women In Industry Youth In Action Tenders and Careers Contributing Authors

C O N T E NT S

ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY

JUL 2022

FROM THE EDITOR RDJ Publishing (Pty) Ltd is the publishing home of the RDJ Briefing, written and authored through the collaboration with RDJ Consulting Services CC (www.rdjconsulting.co.za).

PO Box 23738 Windhoek, NAMIBIA Telephone +264 81 750 3010 EMAIL briefing@rdjpublishing.africa WEBSITE www.rdjpublishing.africa

RDJ Consulting Services CC is an advisory consultancy to the Energy, Water and Transport Sectors with a focus on sustainable operations and renewable energy.

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT – RECYCLE! Dear Reader, Welcome to our July Edition, in honour of humanity’s survival noting in particular the International Plastic Bag Free Day, celebrated already on July 3rd. This edition thus takes you through the economic value and lifecycle of recycling, along with the possible recycling actions in the Solid Waste Management Industry, Water Industry, Energy industry, Roads and Aviation sectors, etc. When we speak of Pollution and Recycling, all our focus tends to be drawn towards plastic bags, but this is not the only product and material in need of our attention! And so we bring you more than just plastic recycling! In your reading this month, you will be taken on a journey to encounter topics that will enlighten your understanding surrounding recycling and lead you to re-evaluate your understanding and application of recycling as a whole. These topics will include: Can recycling be Economical? Can we really live without plastics? Tackling Plastic Pollution Feeding a Need: Waste to Energy Recycling and Fueling Aviation Waste Not, Want Not – Wastewater Recycling We are also delighted to inform you that RDJ Publishing (Pty) Ltd, in collaboration with RDJ Consulting Services CC. has successfully hosted

another public discussion on Sustainable Aviation which will be highlighted under the Synthetic Fuels Section. Other relevant industry topics and successes brought to you are: The Omburu Solar Power Station Inauguration by NamPower REIAoN-GIZ Green People’s Energy Project Launch So let me leave you to the magazine and please enjoy your reading. As always, stay safe and feel free to comment, compliment and subscribe via the following email if you are a new reader: briefing@rdjpublishing.africa or reach me directly editor@rdjpublishing.africa

Stay tuned!

WATCH THIS SPACE Enjoy, #Stay Safe and a happy 2022 to you….

(David A. Jarrett) Editor

Authors RDJ Interns*

This report is a FREE Publication written and authored through collaboration with RDJ Consulting Services CC based in Windhoek, Namibia. The content is collected from publicly available information and so its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

? w o n k u o y d i D

Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in an incinerator. Courtesy: Freepik

Quick Facts 1. Recycling a single aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television or computer for three hours. 2. Using recycled aluminium instead of virgin materials decreases water and air pollution and energy use by 95%. 3. Aluminium can be recycled using 5% of the energy used to make the original product.

4. Recycling saves 25-30% of the energy used to make glass from virgin materials. 5. About one-third of an average dump is made up of packaging material! 6. Only 12% of the energy required to convert petroleum into plastic is needed to recycle it

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY , 2022

CAN RECYCLING BE ECONOMICAL? AUTHOR: Chilombo (Olga) Priscila Economist @ RDJ Consulting

Courtesy: Sharpener.net

imilar to the discussion around the energy mix, there is the question around the best recyclable material for packaging taking both economics and consumer needs into account. For every product we buy, we either receive it packaged in plastic, glass or aluminium cans. As soon as you are finished with the product packaging or the product, the first thought is disposal. For some disposal is a chore and others a process that must be done to maintain sustainable development. Regardless, humanity can be coerced into saving itself through a better understanding or application of the economics of their actions.

Enter recycling, the ability for the re-use of materials. Recycling conserves natural resources, strengthens economies and creates jobs. Recycling is an essential part of Sustainable Materials Management (SMM), an approach that emphasizes the productive and sustainable use of materials across their entire life cycle, while minimizing their environmental impacts. In Japan, there is legislation that requires consumers to pay a fee for recycling appliances while here in Namibia,

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

citizens of major urban areas pay a “waste handling” fee for waste pickup. These are clear examples of monetary impactors of consumption residue. Waste pickup costs money. It involves staffers, equipment, scheduling and most regrettable large landfills or incinerators for nonrecyclable material.

Benefits of Recycling Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators Conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals Increases economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials Saves energy Supports manufacturing and conserves valuable resources Helps create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries

Recyclable Glass Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity. Glass is made from readily available domestic materials, such as sand, soda ash, limestone, and “cullet,” the industry term for furnace-ready recycled glass. Recycled glass can be substituted for up to 95% of raw materials. Manufacturers benefit from recycling in several ways: Recycled glass reduces emissions and consumption of raw materials, extends the life of plant equipment, such as furnaces, and saves energy. Recycled glass containers are always needed because glass manufacturers require high-quality recycled container glass to meet market demands for new glass containers. Recycled glass is always part of the recipe for glass, and the more that is used, the greater the decrease in energy used in the furnace. This makes using recycled glass profitable in the long run, lowering costs for glass container manufacturers—and benefiting the environment. Glass containers for food and beverages are 100% recyclable, but not with other types of glass. Other kinds of glass, like windows, ovenware, Pyrex, crystal, etc. are manufactured through a different process. If these materials are introduced into the glass container manufacturing process, they can cause production problems and defective containers. Separating recycled container glass by color allows the industry to ensure that new bottles match the color standards required by glass container customers.

What's saved when a tonne is recycled?

Glass Bottles

Aluminium Cans

14, 000

kilowatt hours of energy

6545

litres of oil

54 cu ft

270 cu ft

of space in landfill

Recyclable Plastic It is well known that the most common material used for plastic bottles is polyethylene terephthalate, better known to the public as PET or polyester, and environmentalists usually campaign against plastic bottles due to the resources used to produce them. Plastic bottles have a huge advantage when it comes to transportation and distribution. They are relatively light, weighing around 40 times less than a same-sized glass bottle, and therefore the use of fuel to ship them is comparably low. Recycled aluminium tends to be single-use containers and are considered to have less environmental damage and

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY , 2022

can be repeatedly recycled with no change in properties. The collection of aluminium cans can be greatly improved to make recycling the main supply of new cans. Once collection rates reach 100%, the same piece of aluminium could be used in multiple recycling loops with the only material losses occurring in the shredding and remelting processes at a 94% combined efficiency rate. When stretched over 40 recycling loops, metabolic.nl calculated that “one aluminium can recycled over and over again has the potential to displace the material equivalent of 15 aluminium cans”.

This is impressive for an economy driven by sustainability! Recyclable metal cans Southern Africa leads the way for producers of metal can recycling and the can manufacturers have come together to lead and inspire the recovery of used metal cans. This is done through a can recovery company called Collect-aCan which has been at the forefront of minimising the negative impact of used metal cans on the environment over the past 18 years. With this, all recovered scrap and used metal cans are either processed to add value (de-tinning and briquetting) or prepared and sold for recycling, resulting in a complete loop, called “cradle-to-cradle”.

It is important to note that not all products can be recycled. The maximum closed-loop recycled content limit for recyclable aluminium cans is currently 90%, with the remaining 10% coming from primary aluminium to adjust the alloy composition. The good news however is that aluminium manufacturers can adjust the alloy composition using aluminium scrap with the right alloy properties to create a can made of 100% recycled content. Evaluating glass, plastic or aluminium, it is obvious that no packaging type is without impact. However packaging, such as glass and aluminium that can be recycled on an infinite loop tend to have larger sustainability benefits and can contribute to the recycling economy, especially for developing countries. The only notable difference between the two is their transportation impact. Transporting goods packaged in glass tends to be more expensive than plastic and aluminum due to the weight of glass. Now that you better understand your impact, the way forward? Let’s discuss further ats briefing@rdjpublishing.africa

Readings: https://theconversation.com/ranked-the-environmental-impact-offive-different-soft-drink-containers-149642 https://www.metabolic.nl/publications/recycling-unpacked/ https://www.euronews.com/green/2019/07/17/glass-bottles-vsaluminium-cans-which-are-better-for-theenvironment#:~:text=Cans%20are%20also%20significantly%20ligh ter,a%20glass%20bottle%2C%20said%20Cranes.

Courtesy:www.rstreet.org

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

ECONOMY AT LARGE Can we really live without plastics? AUTHOR: Chilombo (Olga) Priscila Economist @ RDJ Consulting

A study by the U.S. Department of Energy has found that reducing a vehicle's weight by 10% can increase its fuel economy by 5-7%. As a result, U.S. carmakers are now also relying more on plastics and plastic composites to reduce the weight of the cars they produce in order to meet the U.S. government demand for 54.5 miles per gallon (19.4 kilometers per litre) by 2025.

Courtesy: Plastics in our lives: Courtesy - Sri Lanka “National Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management 2021-2030” Report

henever the topic of ‘plastic waste’ is discussed, people tend to focus on ‘plastic bags and bottles’, and not essentially ‘plastics’ in its general sense. The term “plastics” includes materials composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulfur. Let’s take a step back and think together about the issue at hand. Is the real problem ‘plastic’ or waste disposal and its management? To get a clearer picture of this entire discussion, let us take a look at some uses of plastic and their benefits. Despite an increasing awareness of the potential negatives and threat that it poses to the environment, plastic remains evident everywhere in our daily activities. As you know, plastic is found in various hygiene products, packaging of most of what we buy, bicycle helmets, child safety seats, automotive airbags, housing insulation and electronic devices such as mobile phones, or computers. Due to its reduced weight, the inclusion of plastics in vehicle design boosts fuel efficiency, reduces corrosion due to salt and water on metal surfaces, and lowers emissions overall. Although plastics have been used for decades both externally and internally, many automotive manufacturers have now switched to using bioplastics and polymers, instead of relying on fossil-based plastics, to improve their carbon footprint and promote sustainability.

Furthermore, using plastics in housing insulation makes homes significantly more energy efficient and reduces the costs of heating and cooling. Plastic valves and pipes hold up against corrosion and are cheaper and easier to install than pipes made from other materials. Other than that, plastics are essential in the medical field and have cut down costs while simultaneously enhancing quality in medical components. Plastic use in medical devices have led to fewer infections, increased comfort, increased safety, and it is said to be less costly for patients. In the cutting-edge technologies, plastic materials and products are used in the space program, in bulletproof vests and even in prosthetic limbs.

Danger ahead? Despite their undoubtable usefulness, plastic bags and products are unfortunately also found in our oceans, which in this case, pose great risk to all living things under water. What is worse is that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reports that given that this continues, “the amount of plastic waste produced globally is set to almost triple by 2060, with around half of it potentially ending up in landfills, while only less than a fifth is projected to be recycled.” The OECD Global Plastics Outlook report released in June 2022 shows that only 9% of the global overall plastic waste is recycled (15% is collected for recycling but 40% of that is disposed of as residues). Meanwhile, 19% of it is incinerated, 50% ends up in landfill and 22% evades waste management systems and goes into uncontrolled dumpsites, where it is burned in open pits or ends up in terrestrial or aquatic environments, especially in developing countries.

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

Share of plastics treated by waste management category, after disposal of recycling residues and collected litter, 2019. Data sourced from OECD Global Plastics Outlook Database.

Despite the COVID-19 crisis leading to a 2.2% decrease in plastics use in 2020 due to slow economic activities carried out, a rise in pollution, food takeaway packaging and plastic medical equipment such as masks have driven up littering. As economic activity resumed in 2021, plastics consumption has also rebounded. Given this and more, it seems hard to live without plastic, as they form part of our day to day activities. However, their existence calls for greater attention and responsibility in regulating its production and waste management.

Their existence calls for greater attention and responsibility in regulating its production and waste management. Time to act Today, people are meeting the challenges plastic waste poses in creative ways. While the end goal will be to phase out the materials creating the bulk of the pollution, in the meantime we must improve the capture of recycling systems globally and make locally recycled and repurposed materials more desirable and acceptable. Learning to love plastic – wisely – means taking on the responsibility for our discarded items. Considering global value chains and trade in plastics, aligning design approaches and the regulation of chemicals will be key to improving the circularity of plastics. An international approach to waste management should lead to all available sources of financing, including development aid, being mobilised to help low and middleincome countries improve waste management infrastructure.

Cross-cutting issues Other measures that can prove successful in cutting down production and consumption of plastic products to reduce pollution are: Public awareness / Education / Training Investment in Research and Development relating to sustainable plastic waste management Community Participation Adequate disposal of plastic products Incentives to reuse and repair plastic items Targets for recycled content in new plastic products Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes Improved waste management infrastructure Increased litter collection rates Imposition of taxes on plastics and on plastic packaging But as always the conversation briefing@rdjpublishing.africa

continues

Readings: http://petoskeyplastics.com/the-positives-ofplastic/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20plastics%20allows,fuel%2C% 20and%20so%20much%20more. https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-inamerica/chemistry-in-everyday-products/plastics https://www.innovativeautomation.com/the-history-importanceand-use-of-plastics-in-automobiles/ https://www.essentracomponents.com/en-gb/news/productresources/how-plastics-are-increasing-vehicleefficiency#:~:text=A%20study%20by%20the%20Department,miles% 20per%20gallon%20by%202025. https://www.unep.org/ietc/resources/report/national-action-planplastic-waste-management-2021-2030 https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEXFAOC189817/#:~:text=The%20vision%20is%20to%20keep,%2Dup%2 C%20and%20value%20recovery

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

OIL & GAS July 2022 Fuel Prices Update

Namibia

South Africa

Effective as of 6 July 2022

N$ 22.28

R 26.09

per litre 95 Octane Unleaded Petrol

N$ 22.77

R 24.89

per litre Diesel 50ppm

PETROL

BY 188 CENTS PER LITRE

PETROL

BY 267 CENTS PER LITRE

DIESEL

BY 134 CENTS PER LITRE

DIESEL

BY 226 CENTS PER LITRE

www.rdjconsulting.co.za

JULY, 2022

SYNTHETIC FUELS Recycling and Fueling Aviation AUTHOR: David Jarrett Managing Consultant @ RDJ Consulting

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (Courtesy: Airbus)

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

he aviation sector is growing while at the same time growing as a concern, due to its potential environmental impacts and its vulnerability with respect to energy security. These issues have put the aviation and generally the transport sector at the forefront of the tide in achieving energy efficiency. Credit must be given that efforts have been made from every angle to improve efficiency through better technology, optimized operation, as well as energy-saving infrastructure. Current projections estimate that the demand for air passenger journeys in 2050 could exceed 10 billion. The expected 2021-2050 carbon emissions on a ‘business as usual’ trajectory is approx. 21.2 gigatons of CO2. The production of cirrus clouds induced by the condensation traces of aircraft (clouds appearing between 5,000 and 14,000 m altitude) contributes with 5% to the global radiation balance of the planet.

What is SAF and why is it so important? Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF for short, is actually jet fuel. It is Jet A, Jet A-1, the same kerosene end product that we have been burning in our engines for decades. SAF is synthetically derived from alternative renewable sources and developed in a more sustainable fashion, as opposed to conventional petroleum-based fuels. SAF can start from various feedstock sources, such as oils from plants, algae, greases, fats, waste streams, alcohols,

sugars, and captured CO2, but ends up being the same hydrocarbon mixture called kerosene that we know as jet fuel. BP (Air BP Limited) reports that some typical feedstocks used are cooking oil and other non-palm waste oils from animals or plants, solid waste from homes and businesses, such as packaging, paper, textiles, and food scraps that would otherwise go to landfill or for incineration. Other potential sources include forestry waste, such as waste wood, and energy crops, including fast growing plants and algae. Air BP states that it’s SAF is currently made from used cooking oil and animal waste fat. In a practical real-world application in 2021, a KLM aircraft powered by synthetic fuel transported passengers from Amsterdam to Madrid, being the first flight in the world operated with synthetic kerosene, the Dutch government and the air operator announced. The potential of better utilizing current waste streams exists. Can we move on this? No pun intended. The conversation continues briefing@rdjpublishing.africa

Readings: https://blog.geaviation.com/sustainability/four-things-to-knowabout-sustainable-aviation-fuel-saf/ https://energyindustryreview.com/analysis/environmental-impactof-aviation-worse-than-expected/ https://energyindustryreview.com/tech/worlds-1st-full-electricaircraft-refueller-transporter/ https://www.bp.com/en/global/air-bp/news-andviews/views/what-is-sustainable-aviation-fuel-saf-and-why-is-itimportant.html

Courtesy: Air bp (bp.com)

www.rdjpublishing.africa

PRESS RELEASE RDJ Publishing Public Discussion “Sustainable Aviation, Are We Ready?” Start// 01 July 2022- Windhoek On the 29th of June 2022, RDJ Publishing (Pty) Ltd. (RDJ Publishing) in collaboration with RDJ Consulting Services CC (RDJ Consulting) who are members of the RDJ Group held a Public Discussion titled “Sustainable Aviation, Are We Ready?”. The event saw the invitees introduced to the RDJ Group and received a keynote address from the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). As the purpose of the event was to shed light on the Sustainable Aviation outlook for Namibia with an introduction to the Namibian Aviation Industry, efforts if the International Aviation Industry, and the basics around Sustainable Aviation Fuels. The RDJ Group provided current factors that support development of Sustainable Aviation and an overview of what is possible for Namibia with regards to adopting the discussed measures. The public discussion which took place at the FNCC Namibia was successfully attended both virtually via a Facebook Live link, and in person by members of the general public and representatives from: The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) Ministry of Works and Transport The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) Lufthansa Light Systems Namibia (LSN) The Namibia Economist Newspaper Confidente Newspaper It is important to point out that this was the first in a series of future Public Discussions as the RDJ Group looks forward to providing public awareness through engagement of factual information and data focused on the Energy and Sustainability sectors in Africa and beyond. The RDJ Group extents its gratitude to the Ministerial Representatives, Industry Specialists and the Public at Large for their attendance, engagement and we note with appreciation the support although not endorsed of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and NCAA. RDJ Publishing hopes to continue benefiting from the interaction with the public during these discussions. Also, RDJ Publishing continues to receive technical support from RDJ Consulting as part of the RDJ Group.

About RDJ Publishing (Pty) Ltd RDJ Publishing (Pty) Ltd is a 100% Namibian owned and operated publishing house. RDJ Publishing (Pty) Ltd is currently the publishing home of the RDJ Briefing, written and authored through collaboration with RDJ Consulting Services CC based in Windhoek, Namibia. The RDJ Briefing is issued FREE monthly. To subscribe and read: Subscribe via our email list: briefing@rdjpublishing.africa ISSUU: https://issuu.com/rdjbriefing/ PressReader: https://www.pressreader.com/namibia/rdj-briefing-9y2b/ About RDJ Consulting Services CC RDJ Consulting Services CC was founded in 2010 with a single mission: To make a difference in the Energy & Sustainability landscape. It is an Energy and Sustainability Consultancy with more than 30 years’ experience in the utility (Water, Electricity and Telecoms), rural and transport sectors. RDJ Consulting Services CC based in Windhoek, Namibia has extensive experience in Southern Africa, Asia, Britain, USA and the Caribbean. We thus work with governments and agencies to address issues in developing countries. End// Enquiries:

Amakhoë //Hoabes, Sales and Business Development Consultant +264 81 750 3010 rdjpubsales@gmail.com sales@rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

MINING Sustainable Mining Operations: Recycling AUTHOR: Hannah Brendell Policy Specialist - Intern @ RDJ Consulting

Courtesy : books.gw-project.org

ecycling is not a new concept within the mining industry. It has broadly been adopted by various mining companies for increased efficiency and profitability, as seen with the recycling of wastewater in mineral mines such as gold mines or the offsite reuse of tailings and waste rock in the construction industry. These recycling actions are but a few examples of the many ways in which mining waste is being reused and recycled.

this is the first globally applicable reporting standard for companies to provide a complete picture of waste impacts along their value chain

When looking at sustainability within the mining industry

more holistically however, we will realize that recycling is only but a portion of the larger picture. Well over three decades ago the Circular Economy (CE) concept was introduced and since then it has been researched and analyzed extensively with applications relevant even to the mining industry. With Mining activities being finite and the demand on the mining industry rapidly increasing, there is a pressing need to find new avenues for the extraction of metals and minerals, as well as ways to circumvent potential commodity pricing losses in the market. This is especially relevant to sub-Saharan African countries which are largely dependent on the mining industry. It is estimated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that up to 10% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP (comprising 15 resource intensive countries) is solely from the extrac-

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

tion of metals and minerals. As of 2018, the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) made up of a coalition of African countries was launched at the COP23 to spur on Africa’s economy while also positively impacting the environment through pursuing a transformation based on the Circular Economy. A significant part of the African economy is composed of the mining industry. The aim of a Circular Economy according to a Research Report titled Increasing Circularity in Africa’s Mining Sector by the ACEA is “to separate economic growth and the surge of resource consumption”. A Circular Economy in relation to mining according to Africa News can be defined as making use of the waste created into the operations of mines. The three principles at the heart of the adopting a Circular Economy in mines can be summarized as; 1. Recycle, Reduce and Reuse 2. Renewable Energy 3. Circular Mines As already mentioned with the creation of the ACEA, the potential value of the Circular Economy is gaining traction internationally with the mining community expected to soon embrace the CE concept fully according to the ACEA report. “International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) is part of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and has committed to adding the CE to the reporting framework. Recently, the GRI launched the "GRI 306: Waste 2020" – this is the first globally applicable reporting standard for companies to provide a complete picture of waste impacts along their value chain. In partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the two institutions have created the Circulytics – a tool that enables businesses to asses cir-

cular economy performance in operations. … Although not yet mandatory, such global shifts will impact all GRI community members, including mining firms. Therefore, mining companies should start considering the circular economy lens in assessing operational efficiency. With more and more companies trying to move to carbon neutrality mining companies have an opportunity to be ahead of the curve by maximising their waste and ultimately strategically moving towards a Circular Economy within their operations. Will it be a paradigm shift with more mining companies moving towards it in the near future? As always the conversation continues briefing@rdjpublishing.africa

Readings: https://magazine.cim.org/en/news/2022/taking-a-circularapproach-to-mining-operations-en/ https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/video/2020/12/17/circulareconomy-and-critical-materials https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/naturalresources/circularity-metals-mining https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/03/28/mining-garbageand-the-circular-economy/ https://www.miningweekly.com/article/rethinking-mine-wastewill-bring-unexpected-benefits-2021-06-03/rep_id:3650 https://www.africanews.com/embed/335058 https://blogs.imf.org/2021/11/05/countering-tax-avoidance-insub-saharan-africas-miningsector/#:~:text=The%20mining%20sector%20contributes%20about, intensive%20sub%2DSaharan%20African%20countries. https://www.miningweekly.com/article/rethinking-mine-wastewill-bring-unexpected-benefits-2021-06-03/rep_id:3650 https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2022/05/the-future-for-sustainablemining-in-africa-lies-in-circular-thinking/ https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/03/28/mining-garbageand-the-circular-economy/

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

ELECTRICITY Feeding a Need: Waste to Energy AUTHOR: David Jarrett Managing Consultant @ RDJ Consulting

s we have pointed out on many an occasion, waste is a natural outcome of economic activity. While there is rationale and reason to minimize or even

utopianly, try to eliminate it, it ultimately exists. Waste is defined in some quarters as any unwanted material or substance that results from human activity or process. A key category called “solid waste” is predominantly made up of waste that is generated from homes and industries. So what do we do with it?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

There are options to try the three “R”s of reducing, reusing and recycling. But what happens when ultimately we can’t do any of the “R”s? Then sadly the answer is disposal to a “landfill” which is a problem in and of itself. Enter, Waste to Energy. Waste to Energy facilities divert waste from landfills to generate energy from the combustion of solid waste. This is the process of converting the waste stream into energy, normally heat and electricity. Waste to Energy takes non-hazardous waste which otherwise would be destined for landfill and combusts it, generating steam for electricity production.

Thames River Ditch Courtesy: www.bsg-ecology.com

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

Kupferberg Courtesy: RDJ Consulting

Waste to Energy is a technologically advanced means of waste disposal that is widely recognized for reducing greenhouse gases, particularly methane by eliminating emissions from landfills. A good example of this is the Riverside Resource Recovery facility (RRR) which is a UK energy recovery plant constructed at Belvedere in the London Borough of Bexley. The plant has the capacity of energy recovery from some 585 000 tonnes per annum (equivalent to some 42 000 filled refuse trucks) of refuse and converting this into “adequate power for 66,000 homes”. The waste is initially combusted in the combustion units of the power plant. The process is monitored to ensure that minimum combustion temperatures exceed 850°C. High-efficiency boilers are used to recover the heat energy is further converted into electric power using steam turbines. The turbine at the facility can generate 30MW of steam or heat energy and up to 66MW of electricity. In terms of the Waste to Energy impacts, some five European nations with the highest recycling rates being Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and Sweden, also have among the highest Waste to Energy usage, to the point that they have reduced landfill use to less than

one percent of their waste. Sweden even competes to import waste. Namibia has made moves to improve solid waste management through the efforts of the City of Windhoek via an agreement with the European Union. This will take place as a Project that will run from 2022 – 2026. The main objective of the project is to reduce waste volumes and harmful environmental impacts, and thus to expand the share of recycled waste along with creating jobs through innovative start-ups in the circular economy in Windhoek. We thus look forward to giving you the results of this and ultimately highlighting the benefits accrued as Waste to Energy could be another tool in the sustainability “toolkit”. The conversation continues briefing@rdjpublishing.africa

Readings: https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/CarbonCheck_Cert135663166 9.15/view https://economist.com.na/67778/general-news/windhoekbremen-enter-4-year-solid-waste-management-project/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-burning-trash-isenvi_b_3393445 https://www.covanta.com/what-we-do/waste-to-energy https://www.power-technology.com/projects/riverside/

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

WATER “Waste Not, Want Not” - Water Recycling AUTHOR: Chilombo (Olga) Priscila Economist @ RDJ Consulting

Courtesy: www.veolia.com

What would the world look like without the existence of freshwater?

s pointed out by the International Water Association (IWA), rapid urbanization, industrialization and climate change are but a few of the leading increased demand factors affecting water sources. Thus a world without freshwater is certainly an unimaginable reality because water is required in almost everything we do and for the survival of the entire global ecosystem. The main challenge therefore is however how do you meet people’s water demand in this ever changing and finite resource landscape? As soon as you wake up, water demand begins to satisfy the daily domestic chores. In all these activities, we see that water is the fundamental element. Water in any eco-

nomy is also essential for its functionality and improvement of productivity across all its sectors. Freshwater is therefore a primary requirement for residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural use. Extreme weather patterns will undoubtedly impact water availability as there is clear prediction for more intense droughts and higher temperatures. Thus, climate change will as the IWA points out, affect water availability in one way or another while the increased sea level rises and storm surges add to the complexity. Agriculture on which we depend for our sustenance, will be affected leading to reduced harvests and failed crops.

In Namibia for example, unstats.un.org reported that water demand has been exponentially increasing over the years. The graph below shows that the highest demand is observed in the livestock creation and irrigation acti-

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

ities, reaching up to about 497.2 million cubic meters for the latter by 2030. Given that the country has a long history of water scarcity due to the arid climate and high evaporation rates, leaving parts of its population without access to adequate water supply and sanitation, how can such levels of water demand be met by 2030? What if recycling wastewater was part of the solution? Well, this is the choice made by the City of Windhoek helping Namibia’s capital to guarantee a safe and sustainable drinking water supply. With Namibia’s national goals, specifically Vision 2030 aims at ensuring that most of its citizens have access to safe drinking water, this recycling methodology takes the country in the right step. Seeing that 2030 is just around the corner, Namibia has invested a great deal into alternative water sources to ensure water security for human consumption and industrial development through recharging strategic aquifers, recycling and reusing water, as well as addressing water demand through water-saving technologies. These strategies have all proven successful to-date, but the most used strategy in the central part of the country, which is one of the driest areas with high water demands, is wastewater recycling!

The Process Recycling of wastewater can be done using different techniques, with the common ones being Reverse Osmosis, Filtration, Settling and Distillation. Also known as sedimentation, filtration and settling is the process of removing solid and insoluble particles such as fats, oils and grease from liquids/wastewater by forcing the water to pass through porous media. The most used filter is the sand filter, a biological process which uses bacteria to treat the water. When these particles are removed from a wastewater system, the water can be reused within the system. Despite removing many contaminants, this process cannot effectively remove all bacteria, protozoa, or viruses, therefore, the obtained water still requires disinfection to produce drinking water that is safe. Filtration however, remains an important step in the overall water treatment process because it makes the disinfection process more successful with a reduced amount of chlorine. Next up is Reverse Osmosis (RO). RO is a water purification process that uses a semi-permeable membrane (synthetic lining) to filter out unwanted molecules and large particles such as contaminants and

Author's illustration of Namibia's water demand and its projection by 2030. Data sourced from unstats.un.org

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

KEY FIGURES 20 000 m3 : this is the volume of wastewater recycled each day by Veolia to supply Windhoek with drinking water. 26 % of Windhoek’s drinking water comes from the Goreangab plant. 1968 : creation of the Goreangab plant. 2003 : takeover of the plant’s running and maintenance by Veolia as part of a consortium. 2018 : 50th anniversary of Windhoek’s wastewater recycling facility. Source: www.planet.veolia.com

sediments like chlorine, salt, and dirt from drinking water. RO technology comes along with many benefits of which include: Reducing water and sewer discharge costs Can be integrated with an existing filtration system or other pretreatment technologies to achieve up to 80+% rinse water recycle/reuse Having modular design for easy installation Utilization of low fouling membrane technology to enable greater water recovery while reducing fouling considerations in wastewater reuse applications.

Windhoek taking the needed steps Modernized in 2002-2003, the Windhoek plant produces 21 000 cubic meters of water a day and has been run and managed by Windhoek Goreangab Operating Company (WINGOC) since 2001. As of 2019, Veolia reported that 26% of the drinking water supplied to inhabitants in Windhoek comes from recycling wastewater.

The Windhoek wastewater reclamation plant (also known as Goreangab Plant) is a global benchmark since the only cities in the world to produce drinking water from their wastewater are Windhoek and Singapore.

With the introduction of wastewater treatment, Namibia was able to reduce demand for freshwater in its capital city by 26%. Additionally, the Goreangab plant has become an international benchmark, an innovative and sustainable water management model and an example of a successful public-private partnership that attracts experts from Australia, Singapore and the United States. And if in the future the climate becomes even drier, recycling water will be even more important to consider. Well then, do you think the expression “waste not, want” has been proven right after all? The conversation continues briefing@rdjpublishing.africa

Readings: https://iwa-network.org/five-major-challenges-and-emergingtrends-impacting-the-water-industry-in-the-next-decade/ https://www.veolia.com/en/newsroom/news/drinking-waterrecycling-wastewater-windhoek-namibia https://youtu.be/1Oa1UCGOomU chromeextension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://unstats.un .org/unsd/envstats/meetings/2019Namibia/documents/Session%205.1.1%20Water%20Statistics%20N amibia.pdf chromeextension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ctcn.org/system/files/dossier/3b/namibia_technical_assistance_polic y_review_1.pdf https://www.wateronline.com/doc/benefits-of-utilizing-reverseosmosis-wastewater-treatment-for-reuse0001#:~:text=Using%20reverse%20osmosis%20for%20wastewater, wastewater%20would%20reduce%20that%20amount. https://www.netsolwater.com/what-is-filtration-process-insewage-treatment-plants.php?blog=1410

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

THE ENVIRONMENT Tackling Plastic Pollution

AUTHORS: Jed Alegado, Clemens Kunze, Kevin Li

ess than a century ago, most products in Asia were made mainly from natural materials, and were built to last or to biodegrade easily. People wrapped food in leaves or paper and carried it in reusable containers, returned glass milk bottles so that they could be sterilized and used again, and ate in restaurants using ceramic plates and stainless-steel cutlery. Low-income communities in particular embraced a prevalent microretail culture of buying small quantities of condiments and other household kitchen needs. And the plastic bag had yet to be invented.

products in single-use plastics, and effectively hacked Asia’s micro-retail culture by emphasizing how the region’s poorer consumers could benefit by purchasing small, packaged amounts.

All this changed dramatically after World War II, when many parts of Asia underwent rapid industrialization and urbanization. The introduction of single-use plastics appealed to an ideal of convenience and hygiene, nurturing a mindset that ushered in disposability on an unprecedented scale. Companies started wrapping their

To gauge the nature and scale of this pollution crisis and identify possible solutions, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Break Free From Plastic Asia Pacific recently collaborated with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Japan to produce the Plastic Atlas Asia Edition.

Plastic has thus been the most popular and ubiquitous material in Asia for decades, and more than half of the world’s plastic is produced there. But the increasing use of plastic is having adverse environmental effects that extend far beyond the vast quantities of it that litter land and clog bodies of water across the region.

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

ving ecological resource management and at-source use reduction, with an emphasis on product redesign, and systematic waste separation and collection, can help to counter the growing environmental threat posed by plastics.

The atlas includes facts and figures about the toxic world of synthetic polymers and shows how pervasive plastics have become in nearly all aspects of our lives, from clothing, food, and tourism to human and environmental health. For example, we may not realize how much plastic we wear, in the form of polyester and other synthetic fibers made from petroleum or natural gas. In fact, making a polyester shirt may emit between 3.8 and 7.1 kilograms of carbon dioxide. Plastic waste and microplastics in the world’s oceans are a much-discussed problem. But few realize that plastic pollution of agricultural lands can be between four and 23 times higher. The atlas provides comparative regional data as well, especially on grassroots issues such as illegal dumping of waste from more developed countries, the unequal gender impact of exposure to plastic, and the plight of waste pickers and waste workers in Asia who play a critical role in diverting plastic residuals from open dumps, incinerators, and the environment. Moreover, it outlines the responsibilities of Asian governments and corporations in tackling the threat of plastic pollution. Although the region’s plastic pollution was bad before COVID-19, the pandemic has exacerbated the problem. Plastic production and pollution have accelerated as demand for single-use plastics – including for online merchandise and food delivery during lockdowns – has surged. This has jeopardized previous hard-fought gains, with the oil and gas industry planning to ramp up investments in production of plastic products and byproducts – more than 99% of which comes from fossil-fuel feedstocks – in the next few years. As a result, the environment will most likely become a long-term casualty of this public-health crisis. But at the same time, a rising tide of community-based organizations and grassroots-led initiatives across Asia could lead to the emergence of a more inclusive, sustainable, and just economic system that can address the entire lifecycle of plastic pollution. Members of the #breakfreefromplastic movement believe that decentralized, community-led innovation represents the way forward in addressing the plastic pollution crisis. These groups have demonstrated how an approach invol-

In some Asian cities, such as San Fernando in the Philippines and Kamikatsu in Japan, and in Kerala state in India, Break Free From Plastic’s grassroots member organizations are implementing zero-waste management programs that divert huge amounts of waste from landfills, thereby preventing it from polluting land and entering waterways. Such initiatives have shown that the false solutions being pushed by industry groups and corporations, including chemical recycling, plastics-toroads, ecobricking, plastic credits, and plastic collection in exchange of basic goods for low-income families, are merely greenwashing. Their methods require ongoing extraction of resources, because they fail to keep valuable materials within a circular economy, and generate harmful emissions of heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and greenhouse gases. Asian governments must now enact and properly implement policies and regulations that will help to scale up grassroots initiatives and hold plastics producers accountable for addressing the crisis, such as by filing lawsuits and demanding remediation of the pollution and its impact on health, human rights, and environment. Companies urgently need to abandon their aggressive growth targets for plastic production and use, which is expected to quadruple by the early 2050s, and offer credible alternative delivery systems and reusable packaging for their products. Generations of Asians have become accustomed to the apparent convenience of plastic. But without significantly reducing its production, we cannot hope to stop the plastic pollution crisis. This year’s Earth Day theme was “Restore Our Earth.” To do that, we need to foster innovative ideas and solutions that can repair the world’s ecosystems. With the publication of the Plastic Atlas Asia Edition, we hope to shine additional light on a complex regional crisis and spur further efforts to combat it. Originally published May 28, 2021

Readings: https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/tackling-asiaplastic-pollution-crisis-new-report-by-jed-alegado-et-al-2021-05 https://hk.boell.org/en/plasticatlasasia https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w3210/w321 0.pdf https://www.plasticseurope.org/en/resources/publications/4312 -plastics-facts-2020

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

ROADS AND TRANSPORT Getting more “roads” for your money! AUTHOR: David Junias Researcher@ RDJ Consulting

Courtesy: RDJ Consulting

he emerging interest in transitioning national roads from untarred (gravel) roads to improved road surfaces using tar, can consider the two types . roads, high-volume sealed roads (HVSR) or the of tarred more economical option of low-volume sealed roads (LVSR). LVSR is the most affordable of the tarred road type categories per kilometer. Thus LVSR sparks an impression that areas covered in gravel and untarred roads can at least access “tar” in the most affordable means.

The Kenyan influence and LVSR technology In Kenya, a 2019 report by Albert Andeso defined LVSR technology as a method of road construction that uses bitumen-based seals to economically pave roads with a low volume of vehicular traffic.

could not be the case, because LVSR technology has been familiarized within Southern Africa since 2003 in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) document titled Guideline: Low-volume Sealed Roads that looked into the issue of more economically built roads to help tackle the backlog. The document aimed to promote the adoption of a more holistic approach to the provision of low-volume sealed roads and the use of innovative best practices from the region, the Guideline can undoubtedly lead to more efficient use of available road funding once fully implemented. The guide document which was coined by the Southern Africa Transport and Communication Commission (SATCC) under the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) categorized LVSR in SADC, as those roads that typically carry less than 200 vehicles per day, including up to 20% commercial vehicles, and often including non-motorized traffic.

This technology may be viewed as new and emerging. That www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

“LVSR technology promises to lower the cost of building roads by more than 60%”

The fact that gravel roads have the highest coverage of the road network in Namibia at 54% makes the surface ideal for LVSR in the country. LVSR technology has been adopted in South Africa, Botswana, and other African countries. Namibia increased its action in LSVR, following reports in April this year when The Road Fund Administration (RFA) received a loan of N$350 million from Nedbank Namibia to finance its Low Volume Road Seal Strategy (LVRSS), to upgrade highly trafficked gravel roads to a low volume bitumen seal standard.

In Kenya, LSVR is embraced for reducing the costs of road construction. Albert Andeso reported that LVSR technology promises to lower the cost of building roads by more than 60%. This is good news because one fundamental reason why many roads are not bitumenbased seal is reverted towards a lack of financial resources. However, LVSR technology is affordable in its course as compared to substitute bitumen-based seals.

Namibian National roads

Will this modern road construction technology spur Namibia in an increased access method, while still keeping Namibia as the number one country in Africa with the “most beautiful” roads as credited by a Kenyan Magazine? The conversation briefing@rdjpublishing.africa

continues

Readings:

In Namibia, the Roads Authority (RA) data indicates that most of the road network is composed of gravel roads (approximately 54%), with bitumen (tar) roads (some 17%) of which they accommodate more than 80% of the vehicle traffic and earth-based roads sitting at 28% along with salt roads (1%) of the overall national road network. The earth-graded roads, and salt roads together accommodate the remaining 20% of vehicle traffic for various reasons as the case might be.

https://www.ssatp.org/sites/ssatp/files/pdfs/Toolkits/LVSRGuideline-FullText[1]_0.pdf https://kenyanmagazine.co.ke/top-15-african-countries-withthe-best-quality-roads/ https://www.ra.org.na/Documents/PR%20Documents/Press%20R eleases/AdvertRA%20Growth%20of%20Namibia%27s%27%20road%20infrastruc ture.pdf https://thebrief.com.na/index.php/component/k2/item/974-rfasecures-n-350m-nedbank-namibia-loan

www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY Interview with Ms. Brigitte Reissner Interviewed by Ms. Kina Indongo (Communications Contributor - RDJ Consulting)

nvironmentally conscious lifestyles such as the Zero Waste model, promote the conscious act of reducing the amount of waste thrown onto the landfill. This is achieved through repurposing waste, as many times as possible, by refusing, reducing, repairing, reusing, and product sharing. We had the opportunity to speak to Ms. Brigitte Reissner, the owner of the Zero Waste Store in Windhoek, Namibia. We gained a rare glimpse into her innovative business model.

Personal Journey Brigitte Reissner attended Deutsche Hoehere Privat Schule (DHPS) in Windhoek, where she matriculated, followed by a post-matric certificate (Abitur). She then pursued a National Diploma-Hairdressing in Cape Town. After completing her Trade Test, she worked in Cape Town and Germany. Upon returning to Namibia, Brigitte was employed by “Figaro” for two years, before she had the opportunity to buy the salon. During February 2019, she in turn sold the salon and on 1 July 2019 opened Zero Waste Store. Ms. Reissner has an impressive 30 years of entrepreneurship in the service-sector.

Achievements Reflecting on her personal achievements, she is proud of her drive and ability to have completed her trade test, following 1 year and 8 months, apart from receiving the Science Trophy during her 3 year at Cape Technicon. Not only was Brigitte academically inclined, she also www.rdjpublishing.africa

JULY, 2022

achieved her Namibia national colors in volleyball, including Junior Springbok colors for South Africa. Finally, she reflects on her entrepreneurial career, from the age of 23 years, as an achievement in itself.

Motivations At a stage in my life, a career change was inevitable. After considering various opportunities, the “Zero Waste” movement made a lasting impression on Brigitte. Béa Johnson’s first Namibia visit during July 2018, was certainly inspirational and it became clear that this would be my new pursuit. Bea is a US-based environmental activist, author and motivational speaker. She authored the book, “Zero Waste Home, the Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste”. The “Zero Waste” movement is so necessary, not only for the environment, but also to allow humans and animals to live in harmony on this only planet we have, that we call “home”. Following an online course and researching existing zero waste stores in South Africa, it was time to open the doors

of Zero Waste Store in Namibia, on 1 July 2019.

Zero Waste Store Ms. Reissner’s business model is conscious of waste production at all levels within “the supply-chain”. This starts with sourcing of her materials, endeavoring to source locally as far as is possible and to reduce her carbon footprint. Secondly, she only sources products in bulk, which is often a challenge as many suppliers do not package in bulk, but rather in “ready for shelf” 100 g or 200 g containers. This predominantly applies to products, such as spices and dried goods. Once the products arrive in plastic packaging, they are decanted at the store and all the plastic waste material is sorted, then recycled or reused. The Zero Waste “model” encourages shoppers to bring their own containers, whether it be glass jars or empty ice-cream tubs. Every product has a unique code. The customer can fill their container with as much or as little product as they may need, thereafter their container is weighed. This approach allows the shopper www.rdjpublishing.africa

freedom to buy required product volumes, without being restricted to purchasing prescribed quantities of a product. Furthermore, body oils, body scrubs and lotions that arrive in containers, are purposefully packaged in materials that are reusable or compost-friendly. The store stocks a variety of products like, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, beans, oils and vinegars, flours (most gluten free), spices, coffee, teas, cosmetics and biodegradable cleaning products. A small grocery store with a difference.

Challenges The biggest business challenge Ms. Reissner is faced with, is progressively changing the way manufacturers’ package and deliver goods. Often having to explain how and why using different packaging impacts the environment. As an importer of goods, Ms. Reissner’s primary challenge remains permit applications. Additionally, government policies constantly change without notice, which require multiple applications for different permits. Furthermore, transport costs

JULY, 2022

are constantly rising, with a compounding price impact, with the customer ultimately “footing the bill”.

Inclusive Recycling and Waste Management What impact have you seen in your community since starting the Zero Waste store Namibia? “I have seen the community embrace change. It takes more effort planning one’s grocery shopping, however more exhilarating to unpack one’s shopping basket at home, with no waste material going into the bin or recycling bag. This store truly inspires one’s awareness of the 5 R’s, namely to Reduce, Reuse, Refuse, Recycle and Rot, including application in the home. Furthermore, I’ve seen an increase in health-conscious consumers since the Covid-19 Pandemic. It is a store where one’s senses go shopping with you, your eyes can feast on the colors and textures of products, whilst your nose is stimulated by the smell of spices and natural cosmetics. Theme evenings are held at the store on a regular bases, for example, “Holistic tooth care”, “Health of honey and bees

in Namibia”, “Exotic tea tasting” and “Why go gluten-free?” Are there any policies in place in Namibia that actively encourage or reward businesses for using ecoconscious packaging or environmentally sustainable business models? “Currently, apart from the “plastic bag levy”, in respect of the Retail Sector, businesses are not incentivized to practice more environmentally conscious business models. Negotiations are however underway, to discontinue Styrofoam take-away containers. Furthermore, there are positive developments, in respect of a plastics chipping plant in Namibia, subject to final approval. I encourage every business, with an eco-conscious vision, to assess their respective environmental impacts, rather than waiting on other businesses to initiate positive change. Assume a leadership role!” What support do you believe would accelerate more businesses in Namibia to adopt similar environmentally conscious business models?

www.rdjpublishing.africa

“If companies had financial support through a dedicated “Public-Private Sector Fund”, they would be better equipped to implement environmentally conscious business models. I believe that during the interim period, it is important for communities to have a paradigm shift in environmental consciousness, through the expansion of environmental studies in schools. What is the next big move for the Zero Waste Store? “WATCH THIS SPACE!”

Conclusion In conclusion, “to anyone who wishes to start their own business and pursue their dreams, I encourage them to imagine their dream as a puzzle, by putting each piece into the right place and should you be discouraged along the way, that you don’t lose sight of the full puzzle picture nor your dream”, are Brigitte’s words.

JULY, 2022

The Energy Potential of Solid Waste Interview with Mr. Ashipala Moses Interviewed by Ms. Kina Indongo (Communications Contributor )

dequate mechanisms to better manage Solid Waste are fast becoming a crucial part of building sustainable and liveable cities. Especially for cities and countries in the developing world. Mr. Ashipala Moses, the system Analyst at The City of Windhoek Municipal Solid Waste Division, shares with us the future of Solid Waste Management (SWM).

Personal Journey Mr. Moses is a Degree holder in Geography and has a Masters in Environmental Science from the University of Namibia. As well as Diploma in Environmental Engineering: Cape Peninsula University of Technology. After completing his Degree he started as an intern at the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia where he engaged in research that addresses sustainable development throughout arid lands. He then moved on to become the project manager of the same foundation. He then moved to GCS, Water, Environmental Engineering, Earth Science and GIS a fully integrated water, environmental, and earth science consulting services company based in Windhoek, Namibia as a Junior Environmental Scientist. Mr. Moses is currently employed as a System Analyst where is responsible for Licensing & Investigations, he is also engaged in Auditing, Research, Education and Marketing.

Solid Waste Management Mr. Moses journey into Waste Management was one he embarked

on through learning and direction from his supervisors. His main task is the registration of waste generators within the city, actively registering all the producers irrespective of quantities of waste as well as waste removal services which are also required to be licensed. They also look into the types of waste being produced for example hazardous waste such as medical waste, or general waste. Registered companies that produce waste are given the City’s Waste management plan, where they are encouraged to adopt plans that will reduce the amount of waste they intend to produce. This is particularly important as space at landfill sites are www.rdjconsulting.co.za

becoming ever more scarce, and merely constructing new sites is a costly expedition. A way in which the city encourages companies to be more conscious of the waste they produce is to charge by tons and to reward companies that sort their waste at the source with reductions. Mr. Moses says that he has seen a rise in companies coming on board and actively recycling, large companies such as Coca-Cola Namibia, Rent a Drum, Kleen Tek waste Management, Medina and Ngunga Investment. However the biggest emerging threat to the environment is Electronic Waste (E-waste). The move into the 4th Industrial Revolution and technology constantly upgrading, has

JULY, 2022

seen a rise in E-waste. “Without proper strategies to deal with it, it's going to be a threat to our environment.” Said Mr. Moses

The Future Of Waste Management Energy from municipal solid waste (MSW). About 60% of Municipal Solid Waste is carbonaceous, consisting of materials which can either be biodegraded into fuels like methane or incinerated, thereby generating utilizable energy. The City of Windhoek Regulations propagated in 2012 stipulates policies that actively mandates the Solid Waste division to seek out innovative strategies to Solid Waste Management. Some of the strategies in the works are The hazardous waste strategy, E-waste strategies, Tire strategies. The landfill gas assessment studies .

done at the Kupferberg Landfill site, which calculate the amount of methane produced by the solid waste revealed that the Kupferberg Landfill site produces viable amounts of methane, it is just a matter of acquiring the expertise, Technology and funding to turn the waste into an energy source.

Additionally, if the money collected from plastic levies could be directed to fund national companies with the expertise to convert waste to energy the country would be on its way to unlocking wastes Energy potential.

Although Namibia does not yet have the technology to unlock the energy potential of Solid Waste, Mr. Moses says that foreign interest in establishing such models is definitely picking up in Namibia. As well as several potential pilot projects. The biggest challenge in the realization of waste as an energy source is funding. Mr. Moses believes that if Government Ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and The Ministry of Finance collaborate more closely to avail funding the possibilities are endless.

In conclusion Mr. Moses encourages the nation to invest in educating the public on Sustainable Environmental strategies. “If we could capture the mind of the youth, the way waste is being produced would drastically change.” Said Mr. Moses. Additionally Mr. Moses wants the community to ensure that the types of waste they generate they take responsibility for and are conscious of waste disposal and its effect on the environment. He encourages a mindset of “My waste, my responsibility.”

www.rdjconsulting.co.za

Conclusion

JULY, 2022

TENDERS NamPower Description: Provision of Occupational Medical Health Services for a Three (3) Year Period Bid closing date: 15 July 2022 Description: Provision of Security Services at EFUNDJA SUBSTATION ONHUNO Bid Closing date: 12 July 2022 Description: Provision of Security Services (guarding) at Ohama Substation - Outapi Bid Closing date: 12 July 2022 Description: PROCUREMENT OF INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A 50MW WIND POWER PLANT NEAR LUDERITZ ON A BUILDOWN-OPERATE (BOO) BASIS. Bid Closing Date: 29 July 2022 Description: Supply and Delivery of ACSR TERN Conductor Bid Closing Date: 29 July 2022 Description: PreQualification of Suppliers for Supply, Delivery & Assembly of Office Furniture to NamPower for

a Three (3) Year Period Bid Closing Date: 29 July 2022 Description: Supply and Delivery of Materials to construct a Green House for the Garden at Ruacana Eha Lodge Bid Closing date: 29 July 2022 Description: Construction of 3 Residential Dwellings for NamPower Staff in Omaruru Bid Closing date: 15 July 2022 Description: Construction of 3 Residential Dwellings for NamPower Staff in Omaruru Bid Closing date: 15 July 2022 Description: Additions and Alterations to the Existing Office Block at Omatando Transmission Station Bid Closing date: 15 July 2022 Description: Installation and Commissioning of Security Systems at Brakwater Substation. Bid Closing date: : 25 July 2022

CAREERS UNICEF Namibia Position: Consultancy, Strategic Planning Consultant to support the development of the Namibia Country Office (NCO) Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-2028 Closing Date:24 July 2022 Position: Consultancy, Develop a national adolescent and young people’s meaningful engagement framework and toolkit in Namibia Closing Date: 28 July 2022 AltGen Position:Technical Developer – Green Hydrogen – Namibia Closing Date: Hartlief Corporation Ltd Position:Stock & Process Supervisor Closing Date: 19 July 2022 Medical Group Position:Medical Technologist/Technician Closing Date: 31 July 2022 First National Bank Holdings Position: SSD Custodian E IRC225070 Closing Date: 18 July 2022

Komatsu Namibia (Pty) Ltd Position: Parts Interpreter: Oranjemund Closing Date: 19 July 2022 Position: Senior Operations Administrator : Finance and Office Admin Oranjemund Closing Date:19 July 2022 Position: Depot Manager Closing Date: 14 July 2022 Byrnecut Mining Namibia (Pty) Ltd Position: Underground Long Hole Drill Operator Closing Date: 19 July 2022 Position: Underground Shift Supervisor Closing Date: 19 July 2022 Position: Underground OH& S Manager Closing Date: 19 July 2022 Position: Underground Mine Foreman Closing Date: 19 July 2022

JULY, 2022

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

DAVID JARRETT Editor

NICOLE FELIX CHILOMBO OLGA PRISCILA Designers/Layout

RENEE JARRETT Group Executive

AMAKHOE //HOABES Sales & Business Consultant

DAVID JARRETT (Managing Consultant) RDJ Consulting Services CC

CHILOMBO OLGA PRISCILA (Group-Operations Manager / Economist) RDJ Consulting Services CC

KINA INDONGO (Communications Contributor) RDJ Consulting Services CC

HANNAH BRENDELL (Policy Specialist - Intern) RDJ Consulting Services CC

JUNIAS DAVID (Researcher and P.A) RDJ Consulting Services CC

DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED EXPOSURE?

SCAN & SHARE A COPY

EMAIL:info@rdjpublishing.africa TEL: +264 81 750 3010