The Klein Windhoek recycling station, located at the //AiGams Centre, has been temporary removed after complaints of abuse by some users.
“Some of the common problems experienced is that people not only deposit their recyclables, but also non-recyclable waste.
“Some people also neglect to separate recyclables from the container in which they were transported, such as dumping the box in which they brought recyclable glass, together with the glass in the glass compartment,” said Wolfgang Schenck, recycling portfolio at the Recycle Namibia Forum.
According to Schenck, there have also been minor hiccups at the other stations such as not sorting the recycables into the correct compartment, or depositing card board boxes or styrofoam container which should not be placed into these stations which is clearly marked at the top panel of the station.
“It was only in Klein Windhoek that other waste was deposited, which lead to the unbearable hygienic situation that the RNF had to act upon,” he added.
He said, the Recycle Namibia Forum is nevertheless committed to supplying recycling stations to as many parts of the city as possible. To make this effort a success, it does however, require the full support of the citizens of Windhoek, not only by making use of these stations, but more so by properly sorting and separating the recyclable products they place into any of the 4 compartments.
He also said, no further stations will be closed and that new ones for the general public around town will come. Even the Klein Windhoek station will be back as soon as the RNF can solve the problem.
When asked where all the recycled material taken goes to after they have been collected, he said, “the stations are services by Rent-A-Drum free of charge that takes the recyclables to their recycling centre on the Daan Viljoen Road where some additional sorting has to be done.
“After which the different recyclable products are compressed and bailed and then transported to South Africa. Only certain kinds of plastic are processed into new pellets/grain for the plastic industry at Namibia Polymere Recyclers, a subsidiary of Plastic Packaging in Okahandja,” he said.
Since late 2008, Windhoek citizens wanting to recycle their household refuse got the chance to do so with the placement of recycling stations equipped with compartments for paper, cans, plastic and glass, at four shopping centres and 22 schools in Windhoek. The popularity of this pilot project soon exceeded expectations, requiring servicing by Rent-a-drum on a daily basis.