German Team Conducts Waste Characterization Study in the Seychelles.

The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change is partaking a waste characterization study with partnership with the University of Darmstadt, Germany. The University is providing technical support which includes a team of experts after being sought by the Government of Seychelles to deal with the urgent need for compelling solid waste collection and disposal. In line with waste management under the Seychelles Sustainable Development Strategy of 2012-2020, the team has been working with different agencies such as the Landscape and Waste Management Agency and STAR. A familiarization visit was made by three staff of the University in Seychelles during the month of April this year whereby they had the opportunity to visit the Providence landfill and the Praslin Landfill respectively. A concern for small island developing states, waste management has become crucial as according to the Solid Waste Management Policy; waste per capita rates are increasing on a yearly basis at a rate of 3% annually.

The Waste characterization project (which includes waste sorting) is being carried out by two German companies (Jager Biotech and the TUD) identified by the University of Darmstadt both with experiences in waste management and waste sorting. The team will be analyzing data collected during the sorting activities and present to the Government the findings and the way forward relating to waste sorting and management at the end of the month of June. 

The waste sorting activity is being done on a daily basis by the team as they collect data on the amount and types of wastes delivered to the landfill and define the waste fractions and purity of the delivered fractions. As a result, the Government will be able to understand the composition of what goes in the landfill and to manage in a cost-effective way of waste sustainably with a greater emphasis on source reduction, recycling and recovery and the safe management of hazardous waste. The total cost of the project which is €22, 000 is being funded by the Government and the University of Darmstadt is also covering some of the cost.

Waste Sorting by the German team with the help of WEP Staff from the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change

Group Photo of the team and WEP Staff.