46 % Household Waste Recyclable for Sustainability

In an era where waste poses pressing challenges, recycling stands as a symbol of hope, despite its position as the third pillar of waste management, after reduction and reuse. Recycling is crucial in protecting our environmental resources and combating climate change. Each year, on March 18, events unfurl across the globe to underscore its significance, coinciding with World Recycling Day—a day dedicated to exploring the potential of giving discarded items a new lease on life.

On this occasion, PIM Limited and its subsidiary, PIM Recycling, dedicated to plastic valorisation, brought together a spectrum of stakeholders, including recyclers, non-governmental organisations, and members from the Ministry of the Environment and private sectors, to champion the cause of recycling.

Here’s an overview of this critical issue.

Statistics: An Alarmingly High 46% of Household Waste is Recyclable

Globally, billions of tonnes of solid waste are generated each year, with a large proportion ending up in landfills, contaminating our soil and water sources.

In Mauritius, the total volume of solid waste skyrocketed to 539,086 tonnes in 2023, reflecting an average annual growth of 2.5% over the past decade.

Much of this waste is dumped at Mare-Chicose, a site operational since 1997, which is now reaching capacity.

Yet, it is noteworthy that 46% of household waste in Mauritius is recyclable, presenting a significant opportunity for recycling, according to Environment Minister Rajesh Bhagwan.

Unfortunately, the current recycling rate languishes at a disappointing 4% to 5%.

Over 30 businesses are registered with the ministry for managing and exporting a variety of recyclable products, including paper, cardboard, plastics, electronic waste, used oils, tyres, glass, construction and demolition debris, along with textiles, batteries, and wood.

The Minister further indicated that plastic waste poses a major pollution problem.

Alarmingly, 79% of plastic waste is either discarded or buried, with a mere 9% being processed for recycling.

Each year, approximately 14 million tonnes of plastic wind up in our oceans, endangering marine life.

Projections suggested that by 2050, there could be more plastic in the oceans than fish.

On average, we ingest about 5 grams of microplastics weekly, which is equivalent to swallowing a credit card.

The economic impact of plastic pollution reaches around USD 2.5 trillion annually, affecting sectors like fishing and tourism.

In Mauritius, plastics account for 14.5% of annual solid waste, with only about 3% being recycled.

In this worrying context, Minister Bhagwan emphasised the crucial need for a shift in mindset and behaviours.

“Everywhere we go, we see litter carelessly tossed aside. We are cultivating harmful habits without recognising the consequences.

Sending waste to Mare-Chicose incurs costs, taking from our hard-earned money, which could be better utilised.

A shift in mindset is essential.” He expressed the hope that by next year, significant strides could be made in reducing waste, enhancing recycling rates, and lowering the amount of rubbish sent to Mare-Chicose and transfer stations.

“It’s vital for everyone to assume responsibility. The ministry is making its contributions, but public awareness of individual roles in this fight is crucial.”

He also highlighted the important function of environmental enforcement in ensuring compliance and penalising violations in waste management.

Sorting: An Essential Strategy, Yet We Must Produce Less Waste

For Joanna Bérenger, the junior minister for the Environment, World Recycling Day serves as a vital opportunity to communicate the government’s actions and to rethink our waste management practices.

On the matter of the forthcoming waste sorting project, she noted that it would be rolled out in phases, aiming to increase the currently low recycling rates while also supporting businesses in this critical sector.

Nonetheless, the junior minister underscored that while sorting waste is essential for reducing pressure on Mare-Chicose, the foremost priority must be to cut down on the volume of waste produced.

“Waste sorting and recycling must not become excuses for neglecting our primary duty to reduce our consumption as a society.”

She asserted that it is vital for the community to recognise the impact of its consumption habits and genuinely strive for reduced waste, complementing the recycling efforts.

In this light, a proposal regarding the source sorting strategy will soon be presented to the Cabinet.

This initiative will fit seamlessly within the national strategy and will be implemented once it gains approval.

The Environment Minister stressed that waste sorting strategies must encompass all processes and costs while ensuring cooperation among all involved parties to guarantee their success.

Cultivating an Environmental Ethos: A Commitment to Embrace Recycling

Recycling has emerged as a pressing issue, sparking collaborative initiatives aimed at raising public awareness.

The Ministries of Environment and Education are working in tandem on a project designed to cultivate an environmental ethos in schools.

A pilot programme for collecting used papers, books, and cardboard has been launched in ten primary and ten secondary schools in the Plaines-Wilhems region, in cooperation with WeCycle Ltd.

This initiative aims to educate students about environmental responsibility and integrate recycling into their daily lives.

“This initiative marks just the onset of what we hope will be a wave of transformative change. We must motivate our youth to become ambassadors for the environment, not only within their schools but also in their homes and communities.

The Ministry of Education has been an invaluable partner in these initiatives, and together we will continue to explore innovative methods to create a greener, more sustainable Mauritius,” remarked Rajesh Bhagwan.

“Let us today pledge to adopt recycling, minimise our waste, and make conscious choices for products made from recycled materials.

We must inspire our communities, enterprises, and all Mauritians to prioritise recycling and sustainability.”

PIM Recycling Calls for Increased Support

In pursuit of these goals, PIM Limited and PIM Recycling organised a gathering at their Port Louis headquarters, uniting around thirty recyclers, waste collectors, NGOs, and representatives from both public and private organisations.

The main purpose of this event was to promote the development of sustainable recycling practices.

The gathering aimed to create an open forum where each sector stakeholder could share their ideas and concerns.

Eric Corson, Managing Director of PIM Ltd, highlighted that despite strides forward, substantial work remains, particularly in addressing persistent issues of littering.

The recycling industry faces significant hurdles that threaten its viability. “Recycling necessitates substantial investment in specialised equipment.

At PIM, we continue to maintain our division despite unpredictable profitability.

We have cultivated unique expertise, but without appropriate support, these investments are unlikely to remain sustainable.”

He pointed to a paradox in the existing regulatory framework, providing financial assistance to PET exporters but offers no such support to local recyclers.

“What’s the point of collecting if we lack the means or market to process this waste? This highlights the importance of supporting local recyclers in public tenders.”

Eric Corson expressed PIM’s willingness to move beyond mere collaboration and forge a true partnership with the Ministry of Environment.

He advocates for more robust support for local recycling operators, emphasising that nurturing the local market and aiding the development of a Mauritian recycling industry are paramount.

He reminded everyone that as a small island nation with limited resources, it is crucial to devise suitable local solutions.

The anticipated introduction of source sorting will enable local recyclers to gain access to more raw materials, vital for their operations.

In this context, PIM Limited proposes to become a key ally in implementing source sorting, gradually equipping Mauritius’ 300,000 households with three recycling bins, made locally from recycled plastics.

“Our challenge is not that of a single entity, but of an entire sector.” He concluded that recycling should be seen as an immense opportunity to forge green jobs, foster local skill development, and safeguard the environment.

In alignment with this vision, Shirin Gunny, Chief Executive Officer of the Mauritius Manufacturers’ Association (AMM) and Made in Moris, added that recycling must be viewed as an avenue for developing a new manufacturing industry in the country.

The AMM and Made in Moris actively assist companies in transitioning to a circular economy.

“In the coming days, we will travel to La Réunion to solidify a partnership with Qualitropic, a leading competitiveness cluster in the Indian Ocean, aimed at developing tailored solutions for our island’s and region’s realities.

We will return from La Réunion with an engineering intern, who will be based in the offices of AMM and Made in Moris.

Why ship our waste across the globe when we can transform it right here, leveraging our own talent and infrastructure?

Why can’t Mauritius set the standard for an island circular economy, adaptable to other territories?”

Plastic Management Committee: Emerging Recommendations for Action

The fight against plastic pollution stands as a top priority, asserts Rajesh Bhagwan.

To coordinate efforts, a Plastic Management Committee has been established under the Ministry of Environment.

This committee incorporates representatives from various ministries, the Attorney General’s office, as well as stakeholders from the private sector and NGOs, including Platform Moris Lanvironnman, Mission Verte, PIM Recycling Ltd, and We-Recycle.

Their mission is to enhance collaboration between the public and private sectors, along with environmental organisations, to mitigate plastic pollution in Mauritius.

During the committee’s inaugural meeting on March 6, several recommendations were put forth.

Emphasising the necessity of implementing plastic waste segregation at the source was a central theme.

An assessment of the impact of existing regulations is also essential before expanding restrictions on single-use plastics.

The committee suggested promoting the use of recycled plastics, such as r-PET, and developing standards for their production.

Furthermore, economic instruments like taxes or deposit systems for PET bottles could be employed to discourage the excessive usage of non-biodegradable plastics.

Members of the committee were encouraged to submit proposals for the next meeting, scheduled for June 5 in connection with World Environment Day 2025, which will address the theme of eradicating plastic pollution.

Source: l’Express