ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Monday disclosed ongoing efforts to introduce the country's first sludge management guideline so as to effectively coordinate activities on hazardous waste disposal across all sectors.
Ethiopia's first sludge management guideline has reached its final stage, as the guideline mainly envisaged to effectively implement the existing policies and laws concerning hazardous waste disposal across all sectors, according to the Ethiopian Forest and Climate Change Commission (EFCCC).
"Lack of a clear sludge management guideline hindered the execution of the policies, strategies, laws standards and regulations," state-run news agency ENA quoted Ayele Hegan, Director General for Policy, Law, and Standards at EFCCC, as saying.
The new national guideline, once operational, is expected to provide manufacturers in the East African country "with a harmonized approach to managing sludge after wastewater treatment within the textile and apparel supply chain."
The guideline, among other things, provides a clear list of priorities on how to classify manage, transport, handle, utilize, use or disposal of sewage sludge, it was noted.
Noting that "all stakeholders now recognize the significance of the guideline on how to operationalizing it," Hegan stressed that the guideline will enable to properly implement the existing policies, strategies, and regulations adopted at the national level.
The guideline mainly addresses hazardous waste and sewage disposal from municipal to industrial wastewater treatment facilities, as well as on-site sanitation systems, it was noted.
