The Windhoek Connection - 14 March 2023

Global Recycling Day

On 18 March 2023, Global Recycling Day is celebrated worldwide. It is an annual event aiming to raise awareness of the importance of recycling, and to encourage people to take action to reduce waste and protect the environment. It brings together individuals, organisations and governments to promote and highlight the benefits of recycling.

The theme for 2023 is “Creative Innovation”. To learn more about this year’s theme, have a look at https:// www.earthreminder.com/global-recycling-day-themesevents-and-ideas/

WHY IS RECYCLING IMPORTANT

Recycling helps to protect our environment.

‣ It reduces the need to find and process raw materials to create new products and items;

‣ It reduces the volumes of waste that is sent to landfills, dumpsites and incinerators (where it is burnt);

‣ It conserves natural resources, and prevents pollution;

‣ It saves energy, and creates employment.

Issue 54/10/2023

“While recycling is great in a lot of ways, the ultimate goal is to get people to prevent waste in the first place.”

~ Mckenzie Jones

Recycling also plays a major role in moving from a linear economy (make, use and discard) towards a circular economy where every effort is made to reuse or repurpose items to finally being recycled, and in that way divert it from ending up at either a dumpsite, or a landfill.

“In our current economy, we take materials from the Earth, make products from them, and eventually throw them away as waste – the process is linear. In a circular economy, by contrast, we stop waste being produced in the first place.”

~ Ellen MacArthur Foundation

MORE ON WASTE

So, how much waste do we send to the Kupferberg Landfill? Residents in Windhoek each produce between 2 to 3 kg of waste EVERY DAY. That results in around 7000 tons of waste taken by City of Windhoek Solid Waste Management to Kupferberg Landfill on a monthly basis. And Kupferberg Landfill is rapidly running out of space and needs to be expanded in the near future, hence the City of Windhoek’s objective of “Zero Waste to Landfill”.

It is an alarming fact that close on 50% of what goes to dumpsites and landfills, COULD HAVE BEEN RECYCLED. However, after being piled in the dumpster truck, a lot of recyclable items may be contaminated and crushed in the process. Nevertheless, a team at the landfill site is tasked to retrieve recyclables from the daily deluge of waste. So, the best solution for all would be to separate your household waste at source –

Didknowyou …

…recyclables are categorized, and often branded, with the recycling image of three arrows…

…officially known as the Mobius Loop. This symbol indicates that a product can be recycled, but not necessarily that it has been made from recycled materials.

In 1970, a young university student, Gary Anderson participated in a contest to raise environmental awareness. He won the contest with his universal recycling symbol, the Mobius Loop. It is a triangle made up of three green arrows that appear to be looping back on themselves.

namely at your home.

It may be a challenge to actively recycle if you have no recyclable waste collector in the area, but then options to reuse, reduce and repurpose (what you buy, how it is packaged and how you give it a new purpose) should be encouraged.

The City of Windhoek will shortly open a buy-back centre in Katutura, whilst several collection points (such as at Dagbreek School and Moreson School) are available. You are welcome to drop your recyclables there.

Recyclables have to travel a long way – at great expense. Nearly all recyclables collected in Namibia are sorted, baled and transported to recycling companies in neighbouring countries, such as South Africa. This presents not only a challenge in terms of costs, but also market related issues, such as permits or saturated markets (with load shedding in South Africa having

great impact on the volumes processed at recycling companies due to reduced operating times.)

What can you do to send less waste to landfill?

Rethink what you buy! Reuse and repair what you have, regift what you don’t need anymore, and recycle!

WHAT CAN YOU RECYCLE?

Plastics:

• Plastic bottles such as for beverages and other drinks (coca cola / water bottles);

Did you know

The largest waste management company in Namibia, Rent-A-Drum, sent a total of 13 600 tons of recyclables to South Africa in 2022. A further 3 400 tons was recycled here in Namibia at Namibia Polymer Recyclers in Okahandja (where is turned into new products such as irrigation pipes, refuse bags etc.)

For more information, visit www.rent-a-drum.com.na and www.ppnam.com/about-us-4

• Plastic food containers (peanut butter, syrup, jams etc);

• Harder plastic containers such as shampoo, shower gel and bubblebath bottles, laundry detergent, bleach, household cleaning materials, etc;

• Clear plastics, such as shopping bags, bags used for fruit/vegetable packaging, school book covers, and clingwrap (household as well as the wrapping of 6-pack drinks and cans);

• Harder plastics such as crates, bins, buckets and bottle caps.

♻ How many times can plastic be recycled?

New scientific testing has shown that PET and HDPE which comprise around 90% of all plastic bottles, can be recycled and reused at least ten times.

Cans:

All type of cans:

• Aluminium cans (beverages/drinks);

• Food cans;

• Deodorant / spray cans.

♻ DID YOU KNOW?

Aluminium cans fetch the highest price of all recyclables, and is therefore a valuable commodity to collect for recycling.

♻ How many times can you recycle steel and aluminium cans?

All metal cans are infinitely recyclable.

Glass:

All type of glass bottles (drinks, food, condiments) and glass jars. There is no need to separate into different coloured glass.

♻ How many times can glass be recycled?

The long-lasting nature of glass also means that glass can be recycled forever. It never wears out as a raw material and can be remanufactured into new glass containers again and again.

Paper:

Paper is separated into four different categories:

• Glossy (such as posters, leaflets, etc);

• White paper (office papers);

• Magazines;

• Newspaper.

CARTON/Cardboard also falls under the Paper category, and is divided into:

• Carton box (corrugated on the inside);

• Common mixed carton waste (cereal, coffee creamer, pasta etc boxes);

• Egg cartons;

• Tetra Pak (milk / juice cartons);

• Poly Board (without a foil layer on the inside).

♻ How many times can paper be recycled?

Did you know

…

You cannot recycle shiny Christmas or birthday wrapping paper. It contains certain chemicals and dyes, and sometimes even glitter, that cannot be removed during the recycling process.

Every time paper is recycled, the fibres shorten. It is estimated paper can be recycled 4-6 times.

THE FOLLOWING CANNOT BE RECYCLED:

• Windowpanes, mirrors, and vehicle glass;

• Wine / beer / drinking glasses (they are made of plated glass);

• Glass bottles that were burnt on dump and landfill sites;

• Ceramic and porcelain crockery such as plates, cups and mugs;

• Pots, pans and steel household items (knives, garden forks, etc);

• Clothing, fabric, shoes;

• Paint cans;

• Used pizza boxes (contaminated).

Useful Info

Light bulbs (especially fluorescent lamps) should not go into your refuse bin Used household batteries are harmful to the environment – rather buy rechargeable batteries! (Light bulbs and household batteries are not recycled but disposed of at the hazardous waste sites).

Used cooking oil is harmful to both humans and the environment and should not be poured down the drain. A local company, BEE Energy Efficient Namibia turns old cooking oil into a biofuel. (www.facebook.com/ biofuelnamibia/)

The Windhoek Connection pledges WANDA, a young mother from Namibia, fights a rare head.

In 2019 Wanda was diagno drosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, located i adiation treatment at the West German Pro ermany, to keep her eyesight Her medica partially cover the estimated cost of EUR d on her own

of all proceeds earned during February, March and April 2023 to the WANDA CS FUNDRAISER.

The

Connection | 081 237 3003 hello@windhoekconnection.com.na

REFUSE DERIVED FUEL PLANT (RDF)

Old and expired medication should not be flushed down your toilet (where it can harm the water supply), and preferably also not be thrown into the rubbish bin. Check with your pharmacy/chemist – many of whom will assist in correctly disposing of old medication.

Rent-A-Drum opened its Refuse Derived Fuel plant in March 2017, where items which are not traditionally recyclable are used to provide energy.

The RDF plant currently sends around 80 tons of shredded waste and 5 tons of rubber shavings to the Ohorongo Cement plant every month.

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If you have a Rent-A-Drum outlet in your town, you can add these to your recycling bin:

• Chips/crisps packets

• Chocolate wrappers

• Plastic food pouches,

• Pet food bags

• Plastic seedling trays and food punnets

• Tetrapack containers

• Xrays

For more information on the RNF and its members, please visit www.rnf.com, or mail us on coordinator@rnf.com.na and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Upcoming Events

NEWS talk: Dr Dipanjan Naha (Ongava Research Centre): Living on the edge - Human-carnivore interactions along the northern border of Etosha Nature Park, Tuesday, 14 Mar · 7 – 9 PM

There is exciting research coming from Ongava, a direct neighbor to Etosha National Park. Our talk on Tuesday 14 March focuses on human-carnivore interactions on the northern boundary of the Park. Events are open for the public. If not announced otherwise, venue is Namibia Scientific Society, Robert Mugabe Ave 110. Please note: The opinions expressed during presentations, films or events are not necessarily in accord with ours.

Drumming Circle, Thursday, 16 Mar · 6 – 7 PM

A weekly public drumming circle. This is a participatory event: We bring the drums, you bring the vibe. We use African djembe drums and dun-duns. Anyone can join, no experience needed. Kids are more than welcome. Free of charge, donations are appreciated. We suggest N$ 50 for adults, N$ 20 for kids.

SPCA Quiz Night, Thursday, 16 Mar · 7 – 9 PM

Put your knowledge to the test! Join us for a fun night of trivia @ the Old Wheelers Club in Windhoek. Sign up your team and support the animals at the SPCA!

When and where?

DATE: Thursday, 16 March 2023

TIME: 19:00-21:00 (Sign-in starts at 18:30)

PLACE: Old Wheelers Club, Windhoek

The evening includes: Lots of fun and laughter! Secret prizes for the winners! You're in? This is how we do it: N$900 for a team of 4, or N$250 per person. Email events@spcawindhoek.org.na or swing by the SPCA to sign up!

www.windhoekconnection.com.na

Find and circle all of the words that are hidden in the grid. The remaining 55 letters spell a secret message.

Send your results to us by email to hello@windhoekconnection.com.na and stand a chance to win

N$200!

Addictive

Baking Bars

Bittersweet

Brownies

Cakes

Candy Chips

Chocolatiers

Cocoa

Confectionery

Cookies

Cream Pie

Cupcake

Dark Decadent

Delicious

Dessert

Drinks

Filling

Fondue

Food

Fudge

Ice Cream

Icing

Ingredient

Milk

Mousse

Pudding

Semisweet

Sugar

Swiss Syrup

Treat Truffles

Unsweetened

White

Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Honey And Cinnamon

Ingredients

• 4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling potatoes after cooked

• 1/4 cup honey

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

• Lay the sweet potatoes out in a single layer on a roasting tray. Drizzle the oil, honey, cinnamon, salt and pepper over the potatoes. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes in oven or until tender.

• Take sweet potatoes out of the oven and transfer them to a serving platter. Drizzle with more extra-virgin olive oil.

Source: www.thetoastykitchen.com

Opinions expressed in the WINDHOEK Connection and our social pages are not necessarily those of the contributors, editors and / or employees. While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in this publication is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information. Neither the contributors and / or editors and / or employees accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.

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