A household recycling pilot programme was launched in Windhoek. It is aimed at effectively managing waste in Katutura's Luxury Hill area.

The pilot programme means to encourage residents to hold a positive attitude toward their environment and do their part to keep the City clean.

The solid waste management project is part of an agreement between the City of Windhoek and the Germany's Free Hanseatic City of Bremen titled 'Improving Solid Waste Management in Windhoek".

The project is financed by the European Union at a cost of N$36,8 million.

Amongst others, the programme will support the 2018 National Waste Management Strategy which aims to make Namibia a leading country in Africa in solid waste management by 2028 as well as the Municipality's integrated waste management plan from 2022 to 2027,  targeting to reduce waste through a circularized economy.

Windhoek Mayor Joseph Uapingene says the pilot programme in John Pandeni Constituency is expected to recycle 2,000 tonnes of waste with 100 monthly drop-offs by 2025.

He further touched on the envisaged waste buy-back centre currently under construction, where residents can also take their clear bags with recyclable waste.

"This includes cool drink cans, boxes, plastic containers, those ones you put in a separate plastic and get money for that."

 "We want to improve the cleanness of the city and put something on the table."

The Mobile Telecommunications Company reiterated its support towards the clean city initiatives.

"Corporates like MTC are generators of waste and that waste needs to be destroyed or landfilled and on our part, by doing so we are helping towards a circular economy whatever waste is produced can be recycled and contribute to towards sustainable living."

The sorting of the waste programme is to run for the next five years and is expected to contribute to job creation, and entrepreneurial development and further strengthen private and public partnerships.