Lilongwe City produces 76 tonnes of waste per day, with plastic accounting for 9.6 percent, a new Plastic Mapping Survey has revealed.
The survey, conducted by Waste Advisors and WASTE Netherlands under the FINLOOP project, also shows that only 57 percent of the waste is formally collected. The city has 20 recycling firms.
Director of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Hamilton Kamwana, said the plastic waste sector remains largely untapped despite its potential to contribute to the economy.
Kamwana said government is engaging the private sector to mobilise financing to strengthen the plastic value chain, particularly collection and recycling.
Circular Economy Network Chairperson, Olive Mtambo, called for stronger collaboration among players in the value chain, noting that Malawi’s plastic challenges stem from human behaviour.
She stressed the need for awareness on the economic opportunities in plastic waste.
Head of Research and Capacity Building at the National Planning Commission, Andrew Jamali, said effective waste management through the circular economy is key to achieving Malawi 2063 aspirations.
The dialogue brought together traders, recycling companies, waste collectors and the Lilongwe City Council.
By Beatrice Mwape
