Integrated assessment of hazardous waste management in Botswana

The study reveals that Botswana has little reliable information on the quantity of hazardous waste generated. Primary generating activities include vehicle and equipment maintenance, paint manufacturing, pesticide use, mining, tanning, dry cleaning, medical care, and timber treatment. Only a small fraction of the waste generated by these activities receives safe treatment, storage, and disposal. As a rule, waste oil is dumped in sewers, storm drains, on the ground, at the local dump, and on generators" own plots, or even, as at the motor racing track in Gaborone, sprayed on the ground for dust control. Chemical wastes are typically poured down the sewer or dumped at landfills. Medical waste is incinerated along with general wastes and then landfilled, or directly landfilled without treatment. The environmental or health effects of hazardous wastes in Botswana are seldom documented, but there is alarming evidence of water contamination and of toxic upsets at sewage facilities. While there are numerous laws and regulations guiding the management of hazardous wastes, Botswana still lacks a specific policy on tracking them, designating acceptable disposal options, monitoring and enforcement, or educating the public. The institutional setting for policy and its implementation is quite complex, and hampered by limited resources and a lack of coordination. A series of technical and policy changes for managing hazardous wastes are detailed in this report.