The City of Windhoek (CoW) commemorated World Environment Day, dedicated to raising awareness and calling for action to protect and preserve the planet.
This year, the focus was on finding solutions to plastic pollution and reminding everyone that taking action on plastic matters.
Wilmot Reeves, the Economic Advisor for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Namibia, expressed concerns about the global environmental hazards posed by plastic waste materials.
Reeves lamented the production of millions of plastics worldwide for various purposes, only to be discarded later.
He called upon all stakeholders to fulfil their role in preserving the environment for present and future generations.
"According to the UN Environmental Programme, humanity produces every year more than 430 million tonnes of plastic, with only two-thirds of this plastic becoming waste and finding its way into the oceans and then into our food chain."
The diplomat explained that the United Nations is committed to supporting Namibia in its efforts towards environmental conservation and urged citizens to do their part.
"To achieve some of the interventions being crafted in that particular portfolio, UNDP is collaborating with various development partners, including sister UN agencies, members of the donor community, civil society, and the private sector, to support the government of Namibia in sustainable natural resource management by introducing what we call a circular economy. An economy that is meant to make sure that indeed we tried to invest in recycling interventions to minimise and enhance solid waste management through composting, waste-to-energy production, recycling of municipal solid waste, managing plastic pollution, and increasing awareness on the dangers of disposing of plastics and dumping wastewater into natural bodies of water".
Also speaking at this occasion was Windhoek Deputy Mayor Magdalena Lombardt.
"One of the key strategies implemented by the council is the establishment of efficient waste collection and disposal systems. We have implemented segregated waste collection practises to ensure that plastic waste is properly separated and managed. This enables the council to divert plastic waste away from landfills and instead towards recycling facilities for repurposing into new products."
The commemoration also featured exhibitors who had transformed plastic waste into magnificent works of art and were rewarded with prizes.