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Time to re-think your sustainability role


Time to re-think your sustainability role


The first world countries are in a panic because China is refusing to deal with their rubbish. This makes one wonder: How eco-friendly is Namibia?
Compliments abound for our clean capital city. Yet, travel around and view the pollution along the country’s roads and in people’s yards: The disposable global culture is right here amongst us. We have slowly grown into a comfortable, arrogant society with a quick-fix, throw-away attitude. According to Recycle Namibia Forum, we should think seven times about our waste: Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Rethink, Repair, Re-gift and Recycle. Join them on 21 September for National Clean-up Day.
These seven R’s put the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of consumers.
Yet an American activist, Leyla Acaroglu, says manufacturers should take their share of the blame and design fewer one-use items. “We have created a disposable culture, and no amount of recycling will fix it. We need a reusable revolution to get us out of the recycling mess.” She lists some options: refuse single-use items, take your own containers to shops, ask for reusables, or refuse to buy something which does not measure up to sustainable standards.

Zero Waste Facebook Link

Some folks who are re-thinking their stewardship role:

The NamiGreen E-waste company recycles printer cartridges as well as electronic hardware.
Plastic Packaging advocates the so-called Circular Economy of manufactured items being recycled and reused after consumption, so that they may stay in the manufacturing loop.
NaDEET (Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust) runs an Urban Sustainability Centre in Swakopmund which teaches energy and water efficiency using alternative resources, managing household waste, nutrition, transport and gardening – all on sustainable principles.
The Dagbreek Special School for the Cognitively Impaired in Windhoek has run the first public recycling hub since late 2017. The learners also make compost which is available for sale at the school.
Solar powered vehicles which run on the renewable energy of the sun rather than fossil fuels, have come to Namibia. Conrad Roedern, known in the solar energy fraternity, was one of the first importers of such vehicles. He describes them as a joy to drive. “The maintenance is much less due to the simpler working of the electric motor and CO2 emissions are non-existent.”
Windhoek’s Habitat Resource and Development Centre some 15 years ago started researching and promoting sustainable housing. Recently, the World Green Building Council (WGBC) defined ‘green building’ as “a building that can minimize negative impacts and can provide positive impacts on our climate and natural environment during its design, construction and/or operation stages”.
All green building enthusiasts may join the World Green Building Week from 23 to 29 September. (See Facebook: Green Building Council Namibia.)

Time to re-think your sustainability role!



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