FCC marvels at Belgian waste management

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Wednesday July 14, 2010 00:00

Gomotsang was giving a feedback presentation as part of the seven-people delegation from the FCC that went to the City of Genk for a twinning work visit on May 29 this year. The delegation was led by Francistown Mayor Shadreck Nyeku.

The environmental health technician said he was particularly impressed by the fact that Genk has a five-year waste management plan which he said they are willing to embrace. 'Our council is halfway through drafting a waste management plan with the assistance of Genk.

By 2010 year ending it should be finalised and approved by full council,' he revealed.

Unlike in Francistown where all the waste goes to the landfill, in Genk, each type of waste has usage, noting that plastic waste is recycled, while garden waste is composted.

He said the council here owns the landfill where at least 100 percent of it goes, whereas in Genk, only 10 percent of the waste goes to the landfill.

Genk city also collects methane gas from landfill to generate power and sell it, he said. It also operates a 'polluter-pays' principle, where polluters are made to serve a penalty such as community service when caught in the act.

Also in Genk, he said, waste is separated at the source by use of colour coded waste bins which are uniform.

Gomotsang said the FCC will look into the possibility of setting up a compost system and consider regeneration of methane gas from the landfill for power generation, adding that the council is also willing to attract recycling companies to settle in the country, citing as an example, industries that manufacture recycled waste that is collected from neighbouring municipalities.

He added that the community of Genk buys appropriate waste bins from the council. He said community is provided with waste collection schedule which is strictly followed.

A contingency plan is always there in case there is a problem, unlike here where the community uses any container that can hold waste and the schedule here, he said is not followed, neither is it accessible to the community.

He was also impressed by the privatisation of waste collection in that city, saying the city there reserves two vehicles just for back-up. 'The Genk community is also responsible and does not litter that much,' he enthused.