THE KUSANKHA PILOT PROJECT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LUSAKA
📢 EU Africa RISE (Reform for Investment and Sustainable Economies) and Switch to Green supported the SADC Business Council between Oct 2022 and Dec 2023 to set up the EPR Circular Economy Platform for the SADC Region. In 2024 both Facilities started a follow up initiative to introduce the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) model in Zambia as a vehicle for the roll out of the EPR system in the country, and scaling up the learnings and good practice to other countries in SADC, EAC, COMESA, IOC. A team of experts have been contracted.
Specific work under the PRO EPR proof of concept supported the launch of the Kusankha Pilot Project on 1st August 2024 which includes implementing the PRO business model and identifying the financing structure for EPR in Zambia with a focus on the plastics waste stream. Simultaneously with door to door sensitization efforts in John Mbita residential area, the Africa RISE local team led by Green Earth Solutions Zambia moved to the University Of Lusaka (UNILUS)- another pilot site.
🏫 UNILUS was a perfect location where the PRO EPR model could be tested. The school’s organization, the administration’s cooperation and the existing infrastructure presented a solid case for its selection. The opportunity to instill good waste management practices in the campus, amongst students and staff or commercial entities was not to be missed. Activities of the EU Africa RISE and Switch to Green expert team in this second pilot location under the Kusankha pilot project included:
🚮 Earlier this month, the local expert team led by GES distributed labelled bins for plastic packaging waste at the UNILUS campus. These bins will be used in the campus to separate plastic packaging waste from general waste at the source, within the school premises. It is expected that this pilot will cultivate a culture of waste segregation at the source and instill behavior change among students on how the waste should be disposed.
The GES team also facilitated a master class at the University. The class focused on explaining the purpose of the Kusankha pilot, the roles of the school and students in the pilot and explaining the underlying concepts for the pilot which is EPR. Extensive interaction with students revealed a heartening desire to learn more about a greener environment and a sustainable world, instilling hope for a brighter future ♻ .
The first collections of the waste will be initiated with data being collected across the selected pilot locations. This will encompass data on costs and tonnage that will assist in estimating overall costs for an EPR system using a PRO model in Zambia.
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