In our country, rapid urbanization, combined with increased economic activity, has led to a substantial increase in waste volumes," acknowledged Mozambique's Secretary of State for Land and Environment, Gustavo Dgedge, when presenting today, in Maputo, the second phase of the ValoRe program, which will run until 2029.
Today, we estimate that at least 4.2 million tons of waste are generated in Mozambique each year, with more than 98 to 99% of this waste being deposited in uncontrolled landfills, while the remaining 1 to 2% is reused and recycled through informal networks," he said. This waste is reaching a record high in the city of Maputo, with around half a kilo produced daily by each inhabitant of the capital, which is generally burned in landfills, explained the national director of the Environment, Guilhermina Amurane, at the same ceremony.
With this program, we want only that which has no value to go to landfill (...). This program will pay a value per ton of waste collected for recovery", explained Amurane, ensuring that it will also "give jobs to those who currently live off waste".
The ValoRe sustainable waste management program was launched by the Mozambican government in 2019 to increase the amount of urban waste reused, recycled or treated in the country. The new phase, which includes financing of 18.4 million euros from the climate fund Mitigation Action Facility - financed by the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union -, will allow the creation of a "regulatory and financial environment" for investments in sustainable waste treatment and recycling infrastructures, as well as value chains to promote recovery and reuse, also using public-private partnerships.
The infrastructures will be built, in this first phase, in the municipalities of Nampula, Nacala and Pemba, assuming the role of pioneers who should subsequently transmit their experiences during the expansion phase to other municipalities in the country", explained Gustavo Dgedge.
In Pemba, Cabo Delgado province, the construction of the recycling infrastructure will be guaranteed with 3.7 million euros from the Mozambican State Budget, and in Nacala and Nampula, in Nampula province, by European funding of 18.4 million euros. There is also a two million euro component from the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel), which also supports this new phase of the program, in this case to promote waste separation at source in the two cities of Nampula.
The three recycling infrastructures will directly employ 110 workers, out of 3,915 people directly benefiting.
The project will indirectly benefit around 1,680 waste pickers, micro-entrepreneurs and members of associations and community organizations involved in recycling, enabling the reduction of emissions of 89,708 tons of carbon dioxide by 2029.
It will support the Government of Mozambique in addressing the challenges associated with urban land waste management, through a comprehensive and ambitious intervention with the ultimate goal of building a circular economy, based on investments in integrated waste treatment and disposal facilities, here we are talking about material recovery facilities and sanitary landfills, installation of composting in these three municipalities", highlighted the governor.
On the other hand, he highlighted that waste, "when it finds an effective management mechanism, through coordinated action by various actors, ceases to be a problem" for municipalities, transforming into "investment opportunities".
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