Recycling solid waste: A study on an emerging raw material industry in Namibia
The aim of the study was to assess solid waste recycling as an emerging source of raw material in Namibia. Recycling solid waste has become part of society. In striving to meet the high demand for raw materials and finding solutions to waste management challenges, countries worldwide are turning to recycling of solid waste. In developing countries, recycling is an emerging industry. While there have been numerous studies on recycling processes, very few studies have focused on recycling as an emerging source of raw material industry and little or no research has been conducted on recycling as an emerging source of raw material in Namibia. This study aimed to investigate this emerging industry in Namibia. This study was a descriptive case study, qualitative in nature employing interviews, document search and observation to collect data to achieve various objectives namely: to investigate the motives and extent of involvement of companies in solid waste recycling in Namibia, examine legislation and policies, guiding waste recovery and recycling in Namibia, establish emerging waste recycling growth trends, assess industry value addition processes and associated benefit chains and examine local and regional operational network linkages in the industry. The study investigated all these issues applying existing waste management concepts and attempted to establish progress of recycling as an emerging raw material industry in Namibia. The units of analysis comprised fifteen recycling companies in Namibia. Purposive and accidental sampling methods were used to select the companies. The data was analysed manually using content analysis and presented in descriptive narrative with some illustrative tables and figures. The study showed that recycling industry in Namibia is still in its infancy with most of the activities still concentrated in the recovery, collection and semi processing stage of the recycling loop. Little production of raw materials and products is done locally. Only plastic material formed a complete recycling loop in Namibia. Final processing and subsequent production of new goods for the rest of the materials recycled; paper, glass bottles, cans, scrap metal and electronic waste is done outside the country a situation which may disadvantage the country in terms of industrial and economic growth. Economic and environmental factors were the main forces driving the industry. There was a shift from informal to formal sector dominance in the industry. A host of challenges still hinder the potential success of the industry. There is need to improve on the legal and regulatory environment which controls and governs the industry. Despite these challenges, the industry is a welcome development in the country, as it has become a source of employment as well as a waste reduction measure. Networking within the industry both local and regional facilitates its survival. The study recommends for an integrated recycling model for Namibia which could assist solid waste management. Such a model could promote a culture of recycling, review of legal and regulatory framework, building technical capacity through the establishment of a Recycling Fund and development of program of action including an establishment of a national database of recyclable waste.
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