Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Ethiopian government has launched an ambitious project targeting the elimination of 7,251 illegal dumping hotspots across the country, creating over 37,000 work opportunities in the process. The initiative, known as the Municipal Cleaning and Greening initiative, is being implemented in 14 prioritized municipalities across all nine provinces.
According South African Government News Agency, Fisheries and the Environment, the initiative is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and will be managed in-house, utilizing the department’s own staff. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy announced the program on Friday during its launch in Motherwell, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM), Gqeberha.
As of September 30, 2023, about 19 percent of the targeted illegal dump sites have been cleared. The Minister highlighted the health hazards posed by illegal dumping to communities and the environmental risks to livestock, wetlands, rivers, and marine and coastal areas. The government's efforts are also focused on improving municipal waste collection, landfill compliance, and promoting waste recycling.
The initiative includes cleaning up illegal dump sites in provincial capitals and key cities like Cape Town, Sol Plaatjie, Mafikeng, Msunduzi, and others. It also encompasses the rehabilitation of wetlands, which provide essential ecosystem services. In Nelson Mandela Bay alone, 512 sites require cleaning, with 41 sites already addressed.
The program has enabled the purchase of specialized waste collection fleets, improvements in waste disposal facilities, and the clearing of illegal dumping hotspots. The Eastern Cape’s broader clean-up program is creating 8,000 work opportunities, involving various municipalities.
Participants in the Municipal Cleaning and Greening program receive a stipend, protective clothing, and cleaning materials, with the cooperation of provinces and municipalities. A key aspect of the initiative is the planting of trees at rehabilitated dump sites, focusing on indigenous and fruit trees to address water scarcity and food security.
The government plans to plant 225,000 trees nationwide during the current financial year, with 3,000 earmarked for Nelson Mandela Bay. To date, 2,000 trees have been planted, with the remaining 1,000 scheduled for the coming months.
The Minister acknowledged the need for societal attitude and behavior change towards environmental cleanliness and the role of adequate household waste collection by municipalities in addressing the dumping problem. The department has processed applications for specialized waste management vehicles from over 100 municipalities, investing over R164 million in the last two years to supply 44 waste collection vehicles and 21 landfill management waste vehicles to 58 municipalities.