Overview : The Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control (DWMPC) is mandated to prevent and control pollution of the environment through the formulation of waste management policies, regulating and monitoring of the waste sector. This is achieved through adoption and Implementation of appropriate and adequate waste management practices which provides effective leadership and guidance in ensuring that the required environmental standards are complied with. DWMPC also promotes opportunities in waste management for a cleaner and safer environment, and business opportunities through issuance of waste management licenses. The Government of Botswana is progressing towards achieving this through recycling initiatives, waste separation efforts and waste to energy as an alternative to achieving climate neutrality For quite sometimes the licensing function has been provided by the department without clear functional guidelines and that has rendered the implementation of the licensing program ineffective. The Department is currently using draft Guidelines which developed in 1998. The guidelines have been surpassed by events as they do not cover some critical emerging waste management issues within the sector. Some of the challenges experienced in using these draft guidelines includes the following: - Inconsistency and subjectivity in appraising the legibility of applicants for licensing by individual officers leading to customers complaints due to ambiguity of the guidelines.
- Compromised quality service provision by the department that sometimes lead to licensing audit queries.
- Inability to meet customers’ expectations in guiding on the procedures and processes of the licensing program.
- The absence of the guidelines has led the licensing processes and procedures open for abuse and corruption that the department face it difficult to ensure compliance.
- The guidelines also lack precise standard/criterion on types of vehicles to be used in transportation of various waste streams.
Numerous efforts have been made to review and develop them in-house, but the process was not successful due to lack of capacity and time. The DWMPC therefore requires the services of an individual consultant to develop Guidelines for Waste Carriers and Waste Management Facilities. |