WINDHOEK, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's first ever refuse-derived fuel recycling plant was inaugurated in Windhoek in the Khomas region Friday.
The plant is a joint venture between Namibian company Rent-A-Drum and Ohorongo Cement, a company set up in 2007 by the German cement producer Schwenk Zement.
Rent-A-Drum will collect more than 12,000 tons of non-recyclable waste material that will be converted into alternative fuel for use by Ohorongo Cement.
Apart from reducing the cost of fossil fuels, the 200 million Namibian dollar (15.7 million U.S. dollars) plant will also enhance Namibia's quest to contribute in the fight against global warming.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta who officially inaugurated the plant said the joint venture has so far created 60 jobs.
Shifeta also said Namibia should recognize that waste recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and the third component of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of the waste management hierarchy.
The inauguration of the plant, he further said, means that Namibia will be at the forefront in tackling recyclable and non-recyclable materials by turning them into reusable materials.
Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua who also attended the inauguration said Namibia has had waste management challenges because of lack of institutional capacity in some towns.
"Khomas region was not spared, especially as it is faced with a huge influx of urban migrants therefore doing nothing to change our waste management practices is no longer an option," she said.
