Environment Minister Advocates for Nationwide Waste Sorting

During the launch of a biogas project at the New Wing Prison in Beau-Bassin, Minister of Environment Rajesh Bhagwan discussed the recent fire at the Mare-Chicose waste disposal site. He highlighted that nearly all waste transfer stations across the nation are currently operating at full capacity.

“Waste management is a process that starts at home,” stated Bhagwan during the event.

He expressed concern over the incident at Mare-Chicose, indicating that the country’s transfer stations are approaching saturation.

For him, cultivating good waste management habits must begin at the household level.

This approach should extend throughout the entire waste disposal process, including collection, transfer, and transportation to various landfills around the island.

Bhagwan emphasized the urgent need to “drastically reduce the volume of waste directed towards the Mare-Chicose landfill, which is nearing its limit.

That is why implementing waste sorting must become a national reality,” he asserted.

However, he acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge ahead. “It is a long battle, but it is not impossible,” he noted, calling for collective mobilization to transform waste management into a sustainable model.

Awareness and Legislation

The situation at Mare-Chicose, a symbol of the waste crisis in Mauritius, underscoring the necessity to rethink the existing waste management system. According to Bhagwan, sorting waste at its source is a crucial first step to achieving a more environmentally responsible nation.

He also announced an important upcoming initiative in the fight against pollution: a revision of the laws governing the use of plastic bags starting in January.

The goal is clear: to instill responsible and rigorous behaviors within the population. “Awareness is essential, but legislative amendments will also be necessary,” he warned.

Collective Responsibility

In this context, Bhagwan made a direct appeal to parents: “Educate your children.” He believes that the effort to transform Mauritius into a truly ecological island is a “collective responsibility, an intergenerational effort.”

Joanna Bérenger, Junior Minister of Environment, highlighted a key initiative: a waste-to-energy project spearheaded by the prison system.

“This project should have been implemented long ago,” Bérenger emphasized, stressing that the delays have contributed significantly to the current crisis.

The conversion of waste into energy could ease the burden on Mare-Chicose and prevent a potential ecological disaster.

Source: Defi Media