In late 2008, a number of partners from the private sector came together to start a recycling initiative that brings recycling to the community. The first four recycling centres have been set up at shopping centres in Windhoek. They are at //Ae//Gams, Auas Valley, Wernhil Park and Maerua Mall. They have been up and running for six months and the response from the public has been overwhelming. Whilst it was expected that at first they would require emptying twice a month, within weeks, as the word spread, they required emptying every day or every second day!
As part of the next step in making more stations available to more people, ten schools in Windhoek have also set up recycling stations: Auas, Emma Hoogenhout, International, Khomasdal, Khomas High, Mandume, St George's, The Convent, Tobias Hainyeko and Westside High. The schools will not only earn income from the recyclables they collect, there's also a chance to win prizes. To get recycling at these school stations going, Collect-A-Can, Namibia Breweries Limited, The Glass Recycling Company and Rent-A-Drum are sponsoring prizes for schools that collect the most recyclable goods.
The next big step is to spread the recycling initiative across the country. This will take time and negotiation with more partners. One of the biggest obstacles is making the transportation of the recycables back to the main collection centres cost-effective. Finding suitable managers to manage and service the stations all over the country is also a challenge. However, the recycling partners are positive that with some imagination, negotiation and political will, it will be possible in time.
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