Waste materials are actually raw materials with economic and other value. So highlighted Mota-Engil Environment (part of the Portugal-based multinational Mota-Engil group) chairperson and CEO Emilio Pinheiro in his address to the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) conference, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on Monday. (This is the first time that the ISWA conference is being held in Africa.)
Managing waste was really an issue of managing resources, he affirmed. For example, his group had worked on projects that had converted construction waste into building materials.
And organic waste was too valuable to just throw away. It could be converted into fertiliser or used to generate energy.
Energy, which was part of every process, could be produced by a wide variety of wastes and in different ways. “By viewing waste as a resource, we are transforming the energy landscape,” he pointed out.
Regarding waste as a resource facilitated the closing of open dump sites. “Dump sites are still a harsh reality in many parts of the world.” Such sites were hazardous to the neighbouring communities as well as being threats to the environment. “We are proud to have closed dozens of dump sites in Portugal,” he cited. One of those former dump sites was now a public park.
However, although the objective might be the same, everywhere, how to reach that objective had to be individually tailored for each and every country. One concept definitely didn’t fit all. He affirmed that, while one could start with global models, these always had to be adapted to local conditions. It was another application of the old business adage: think global, act local. It was necessary to understand local cultural practices and companies should work with the local communities.
“We believe that environmental education is fundamental,” said Pinheiro. Environmental education could turn ordinary citizens from waste producers into effective resource managers. 