Going to waste

By Mesh Moeti

Thatayotlhe Balapi, Senior Environmental Health Officer in the North West District Council, concedes that waste management in the Okavango Delta Ramsar site (ODRS) presents a headache for the local authority.

He makes reference to a study, carried out last year through a private consultant, which found evidence of haphazard disposal of waste within the delta area. Through the culprit (s) could not be identified, the assumption is that the waste originated from some of the tour operators. Balapi makes the point that it is inconceivable that someone could have transported the waste from Maun to dispose of it in the delta.

In terms of Waste Management Act, local authorities are responsible for waste management within the district. But Balapi points out that the local authorities have operational constraints. In consideration of the limitations, the law does not put pressure on the council to go all out to collect waste in communities where it may not be feasible to do so-due to factors such as distance and cost implications. In that regard, the expectation on the local authorities is to show such communities better waste management options so that the communities can manage their own waste.

Given the inaccessibility of the delta, tour operators are responsible for the waste generated in their camps. They are required to transport their waste to a place where there is a designated waste disposal point. As a licensing requirement, tour operators are expected to submit a convincing waste management plan before they are given a license.

“But some, even with powerful plans, won’t pollute their own areas, but drive 5 km away and throw it there,” says Balapi.

He concedes that monitoring to ensure compliance with the submitted waste management plans is not sufficient. Officials from the council, tourism department and land board visit the camps once a year.

‘Once a year is not adequate. It would be adequate if all tour operators took responsibility,” points out Balapi. “If it wasn’t for difficulty of terrain, we would have people on the ground to monitor and ensure compliance.”