Status of Waste Management in Malawi

By Patrick Medius NyirendaEnvironmental Affairs Department

P/Bag 394Lilongwe 3

Malawi

INTRODUCTION• The rapid increase in population and development activities in Malawi

in the past decade has over-stretched the capacities of the Local Authorities in the provision of services. • Quasi-residential (squatter) housing is on the increase due to high

urbanisation rate. This has increased unplanned and impoverished settlements. • Currently, about 78 percent of the urban dwellers in the cities live in

low-income houses of which 44 percent live in Traditional Housing Areas (THAs).

INTRO………………• Due to high poverty levels, some residents have resorted to salvaging

waste materials for use or sale.• Although efforts are being made to ensure improved waste

management practices, there are still issues to look into at various levels.

Regulatory Framework for Waste Management• The Constitution of Malawi• National Environmental Policy• National Sanitation Policy• Water Resources Act• Environment Management Act• Water Resources Act• Water Works Act• Town and Country Planning Act• Local Government Act• Public Health Act• Waste Management Regulations• Chemicals and Hazardous Substances Regulations

Facts worthy Noting• Population of Malawi is estimated at 17 Million against the country’s surface area of

118,400 sq. km, one third of which, is Lake Malawi.• On average, waste generation rate is estimated at 0.5 kg/capita/day.• For example, the City of Lilongwe generates about 109 metric tonnes of waste per

day, out of which:40 percent is from residential areas;25 percent from commercial areas;15 percent from industries; and 20 percent is from hospitals. • Only 30 percent of the waste is collected for disposal hence the remaining is

disposed of indiscriminately in open spaces, rivers, roadsides and other places.

Solid Waste Management Status• There are only two landfills in the country. These are institutional for Kayelekera

Uranium Mine and Dwangwa Sugar Corporation.

• All the city councils except Zomba have waste disposal sites which were

commissioned as landfills but are currently being managed as crude dumps due to

various factors. Zomba City Council is utilizing an old gravel pit.

• There are no municipal incinerators. Most of the institutional incinerators are just

batch burners except a few such as the one at St. Gabriel Hospital and Nkhotakota

District Hospital.

……..Waste Management Status• Waste segregation is not fully embraced and our disposal sites receive

commingled waste-both non-hazardous and hazardous.• Most of the waste disposal sites are not fenced and infestation by

pets, rodents and scavengers is common.• Poor management of these facilities results in human poisoning and

pollution of air and water resources.

…….Status of Solid Waste Management• The waste disposal sites receive waste from residential areas,

commercial areas, hospitals and industries

• The waste disposed at the dumpsites include refuse, paper, e-waste, plastics, scrap metals, expired and obsolete chemicals.

• In the past, the main disposal method of plastics was mainly burning. At the moment, plastics are picked from the disposal sites or collection centers and sold to recyclers in Lilongwe and Blantyre.

Status of Waste Management…….• Used oils are mainly re-used for treatment of poles and as a source of

energy for cooking.• A few companies are utilizing used oil as source of energy in furnaces or

recycling back to motor vehicle oil.• Some of the medical and industrial wastes are incinerated on-site using

batch burners.• E-waste is usually salvaged for some vital parts and the rest is burnt at

disposal sites• Paper waste is also collected or bought for recycling e.g tissue paper

and briquette making

Status of Solid Waste ……• Some companies generate special wastes which require specialized

treatment or disposal.• Currently, solid chemical and other hazardous wastes are managed by

constructing concrete pits within the disposal sites which in some cases is not a good practice.• Liquid waste from industries is dumped indiscriminately or discharged

into sewer lines thereby affecting the treatment processes which are largely biological.

Status of Liquid Waste Management• Blantyre City Council has 5 wastewater treatment plants serving

various locations• Lilongwe City Council has 3 wastewater treatment plants• There are about 5 institutional wastewater stabilization ponds in

Lilongwe to complement the city council facilities • Zomba has 1 municipal wastewater treatment plant but there are a

few wastewater stabilization ponds for institutions such as Chancellor College

…….cont’d• Mzuzu City Council has no sewer line network and just use sludge

ponds for disposal of sludge pumped from septic tanks• Almost all district or municipal councils have no sewer line networks• Some district councils just utilize old quarry sites for disposal of

sewage• However, most of the sewage plants are dysfunctional and require

major maintenance.

GOVERNMENT EFFORTS• Environmental Affairs Department is implementing Integrated Waste

Management Project• The project is wholly financed by Government• The project started in 2014 and is expected to run up to 2019• The main goal of the project is to improve quality of life of Malawians• The project aims at:Upgrading of existing landfills and facilitate establishment of new

ones

……cont’dProcure and install waste incinerators in Lilongwe and BlantyreCarry out awareness campaigns on waste management issuesProcure and distribute waste bins in government institutions to pilot

waste segregation and recyclingCarry out maintenance of selected sewer lines which are in

dilapidated statePromote public private partnerships in waste management

Ban of Thin Plastics • One of the best approaches in waste management is to reduce waste

generation at source especially for the waste which is difficult to manage at the end of the waste stream• One of the waste causing challenges in the country is plastic.• Plastic is synthetic and the material is both hazardous and non-

biodegradable.• Plastic has negative impacts on aesthetics, water quality, air quality and

soil integrity • In order to address the problem of plastics Government is

implementing a Ban on Thin Plastics.

Opportunities for NGOs/Companies/General Public• Participation by companies in waste management has several benefits

including:Helps the nation achieve sustainable development goalsImproves corporate image for the company /institutionEnsures easy regulatory compliance for the company etc

…..cont’d• Within the solid waste management hierarchy, PPP is possible at

every stage i.e. generation, reuse, recycling, collection, transportation and disposal• Already, EAD in collaboration with local authorities and some

companies are implementing activities to promote recycling• Some NGOs and individuals are also taking part in waste collection

and disposal

Preferred Waste Management Approach

Challenges• Inadequate resources• Inadequate capacity in managing some types of chemical wastes• Lack of specialized facilities for treatment or disposal of some types of

wastes e.g. POPs, obsolete pesticides, asbestos etc• Low awareness on dangers of POPs and other hazardous waste• Low awareness on waste minimization and use of alternatives.

Conclusion• Management of waste in general, is still a problem in the country• There is need to critically look into practices of managing chemical

and other hazardous wastes• The need for capacity building can not be over emphasized• Although facilities are necessary to manage wastes, intensifying

awareness raising among the citizenry is very important.• A clean and healthy environment is possible but it requires every

citizen to understand their responsibility.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!!