LUSAKA: Finland has expressed interest to partner with Zambia in exploring possibilities of collaborative arrangements on the resilient business innovations and Circular Economy for Municipal Solid Waste Management in all Local Authorities.
This follows a bilateral meeting between Her Excellency, Ms. Saana Halinen, Ambassador of Finland to Zambia and a visiting Circular Economy Business Delegation from Finland led by Deputy Mayor of the city of Tampere, Mr. IIkka Porttikivi, and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon Gary Nkombo, MP.
The meeting later culminated in the tour of Chunga Dumpsite in Lusaka led by Permanent Secretary (Administration) Mr. Maambo Haamaundu, to enable the Finnish delegation to appreciate solid waste management in Zambia.
Chunga Dumpsite is the only Zambian Government gazetted facility for the solid waste disposal in Lusaka, and is operated by the Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company.
Speaking during the tour of the Dumpsite, Her Excellency, Ms. Saana Halinen stated that the Embassy of Finland in Lusaka, through the Circular Economy Business Delegation from Finland, is ready to share best practices in the management of solid waste.
The delegation brought innovatory businesses in the circular economy sector from Finland to familiarise with the opportunities as well as meeting potential partners in Zambia.
Ms. Halinen said Finland is interested in exploring collaboration with Zambia in critical investment areas by utilising waste to energy generation as well as supporting more communities in income-generating activities using waste.
“We are exploring possibilities of collaborative arrangements with the Zambian Government, and one of the areas is the resilient business innovations and circular economy for municipal solid waste management with Local Authorities,” stated Ms. Halinen.
In 2016, Finland became the first Country in the World to launch a National Circular Economy roadmap, and is currently implementing its second roadmap. Finland is also a forerunner in circular economy and has some innovation and technology to enable efficient reuse of waste resources.
The Ambassador stated that the visiting companies from Finland had solutions to turn waste into energy, and other products, such as building blocks for affordable housing construction.
She also highlighted that Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto, a publicly-owned company in charge of the municipal solid waste management in the wider Tampere region, is one of the companies from Finland interested in peer-to-peer learning and sharing of best practices in solid waste management in Zambia, covering the entire chain-process of recycling plastic waste, and refining it into finished products.
On his part, Mr Haamaundu said the Zambian Government is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation with more cooperating partners to increase National development.
The Permanent Secretary said this is because the Ministry, in particular, is working on developing innovative solutions of solid waste to promote sustainability, resource efficiency, and economic growth
He stated that one of the critical interventions in improving solid waste management in Zambia, is the need to build capacities for all Local Authorities and providing them more equipment and infrastructure to improve service delivery in communities.
In an effort to strengthen solid waste service in Lusaka, he cited how the Government had established the Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company, which is an autonomous Utility that is responsible for solid waste service provision.
Mr Haamaundu said it in the same vein that the Government is calling for more technical support to help other Local Authorities across the Country in managing solid waste.
He further emphasized the need to adopt a circular economy model where waste is minimized, reuse and recycling is prioritized in order to create a more sustainable and efficient system.
The Permanent Secretary, however, implored business community and other solid waste generators to continue subscribing to the Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company for the collection of their solid waste
