AFRICA GOVERNMENTS NEED TO ENABLE FLEXIBLE REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS IN WASTE MANAGEMENT

Submitted by Anonymous on 6. May 2016 - 10:06

Organisation (Stakeholder)

Background

Battling competition from cheap imports as well as demand for environmentally friendly production in Africa, both light and heavy industries have to find survival strategies .In particular, technology can help light and heavy industries future by enhancing regional industries competiveness and sustainability. The rapid increase in mid-class in emerging economies has over the past years led to increased demand of goods and services, from housing to luxury goods and anything between in Africa.

Approach

This has in turn attracted new entrants into the markets thereby increasing competition in product quality, pricing and innovative production processes. The proliferation of inexpensive imports have exerted pressure on price as local firms struggle to win customers who already have the option of buying imported product that sells for a fraction of the locally manufactured products. Home grown business enterprise have in the recent past complained that, although Africa is enjoying a rising middle-class population with high disposable income, foreign cheap sub standards product have flooded the markets had narrowed their market.

Results

Even as the importation debate goes on, business in different production line are now investing in sound environmentally friendly technologies to be friendlier like their counter part in developed economies. Regional government have the onus of developing direction and policies in relation to the promotion of sound sustainable environmental technological change in light and heavy industries and the achievement of progress in emission reduction and greater industry sustainability in environmental matters . Some heavy industries require toxic raw materials (chemicals), substantial electrical energy and physical control that are energy–intensive and produce high levels of greenhouse-gas emissions-feature which make them prime target for embracing technological innovation. The problem is further compounded by release of toxic effluents to the environment (air, water, and soil ) from these industries resulting to numerous health complications affecting residents including impotence, irritations of the eyes and respiratory tract infections ,cancer of the lungs and throat, asthma ,bronchitis, conjunctivitis ,hepatitis and dermatitis. In some cases the end rust is death (human being, aquatic and land biodiversity), corrosion of corrugated iron roofs, occasional perennial hunger and poverty.

Lessons learnt

Recognizing that manufacturing of these products has a negative impact on the environment, the industries in Africa have to implement mitigating actions, through use of sound environmental technologies, while continuing to supply affordable, versatile, quality products and range of employment opportunities. Now sustainability and environmental concerns need to be key consideration for light and heavy industry apart from their profit margins in Africa. Adopting new processes and practice is essential to the sustainability of the industry both economically and environmentally. However, introducing these processes and practice requires a series of technical/technologies, legislative, commercial, risk reduction and community issues to be addressed. To capitalize on the early-action benefit, light and heavy industries can offer to use waste materials as source of energy, decisions need to be made quickly and frequently using flexible regulatory frameworks enabled by Africa governments. There is much scope for Africa industries to embrace new technologies to reduce costs, conserve energy, and reduce emissions. The impetus to act is driven both by economic and environmental factors coupled with regulatory frameworks. With growing concerns about the global impact of green house-gas including carbon dioxide emissions, there is strong international pressure on all to act in this area. There are many aspects in which sound environmental management technologies can be applied to light and heavy industries. Technology adoption can lead to; increasing efficiency, reducing costs, conversation of waste into energy, use of waste as raw material (circular economy) and reductions of emissions –including those of greenhouse gas; and making use of alternative fuels and raw materials.Facebook; ;  facebook.com/Recyklainternational https://twitter.com/recycklaintl

Period of Implementation

Contact person

E-mail

Website

Waste hierarchy

• Prevention
• Reuse
• Recycling
• Recovery
• Disposal

Waste type

• Battery
• Construction & Demolition
• E-Waste
• End-of-Life Vehicle
• Glass
• Hazardous Substance
• Marine litter
• Metal
• Oil & Grease
• Paper & Cardboard
• Plastic
• Wood

Area of intervention

• Technology
• Operation
• Management
• Legal Framework
• Communication
• Health Impact
• Capacity Development

Region