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Background
The generation of hazardous waste and its lack of proper management pose tremendous threats to humans and the environment. Hazardous wastes are classified as flammable, corrosive, reactive, toxic, infective, and radioactive. They contain toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, sulfur, arsenic, and cyanide, posing dangers to individuals and the ecosystem. The increase in hazardous waste is linked to the rise in global population and industrial activities.
The hazardous waste problem in Africa is not just a pressing issue but an urgent one that surpasses the problems of the developed world. Africa has unfortunately become a dumping ground for preowned and disregarded hazardous chemical and electronic wastes from the developed world. This is primarily due to the exorbitant cost of disposing of these wastes in their nations and the alarming lack of stringent environmental laws and regulations in Africa. Besides, enormous amounts of hazardous waste are generated in Africa from various sources such as municipalities, industries, health centers, electrical and electronic equipment, and more.
To put it into perspective, Ethiopia alone reportedly generates about 1,200,000 tons of hazardous waste per year, which averages a staggering 10 kg per person annually. Large quantities of poorly sorted and unsafely stored hazardous wastes can be found in warehouses of chemical industries, mining companies, small and large farms, and academic and research institutions across the continent. Even greater amounts are produced each year and added to the existing accumulation. Some hazardous waste is being dumped into the general drain system, rivers, and open fields, posing significant risks to public health and the environment. This is a matter of grave concern that requires immediate attention. A report revealed that more than 400 children in Oromia state, Ethiopia, were affected by lead contamination every year due to small-scale gold mining in the area. Additionally, Mercury is known to be a neurotoxin in various forms, which can cause mental deficits at low exposure levels and severe neurological effects at high exposure levels. Another report indicates that approximately 1.46 grams of mercury (Hg) are released into the environment for every gram of gold mined in Ethiopia. Several studies have demonstrated that women and children are the most vulnerable due to their participation in gold mining activities in Africa. Furthermore, research has shown that improper treatment and disposal of medical waste could expose humans to potentially harmful microorganisms. It has been noted that Ethiopia and several other African nations have low awareness of hazardous waste management.
Properly managing and disposing of hazardous waste materials is crucial for African society. This includes collection, transportation, storage, recycling, treatment, and disposal services. Efforts to address this issue, such as shipping obsolete hazardous chemicals for disposal abroad, only account for a small fraction of the generated waste.
Action for Hazardous Waste in Africa (AHWA) is a community-based organization with idealistic goals. It comprises professionals from the public and private sectors committed to mitigating hazardous wastes' impact on public health and the environment through dangerous affordable waste management services, education, advocacy, consultancy, and research.
AHWA is focused on implementing various objectives in Africa, particularly emphasizing using Ethiopia as a model for managing hazardous waste. The organization aims to promote education, guide effective policies, protect the environment, and advance dangerous waste management practices across Africa. AHWA seeks to build strong partnerships across different sectors to support a long-term vision for hazardous waste management on the African continent. The goal is to establish sustainable dangerous waste management systems that are enduring and beneficial to society, the economy, and the environment.
AHWA is also resolved to create awareness about environmental and social problems posed by hazardous wastes in Africa by providing proper training for the concerned parties. Other objectives include undertaking a national inventory of dangerous waste and developing a database for registration and live tracking of its transportation and disposal in cooperation with relevant government agencies.
To achieve its goal, AHWA will strictly follow the following approaches:
Work Completed to Date and Future Plans.
Over the past two years, AHWA and its sister company NovaChem have successfully provided hazardous chemical waste management training for several companies and national labs in Ethiopia, including the Ethiopian Conformity Authority, the Ethiopian Mining Corporation, and the Geological Institute of Ethiopia. (See enclosed certificates of acknowledgment.)
Recently, AHWA and NovaChem successfully disposed of obsolete chemical waste that had accumulated for the past 40 years at the Geological Institute of Ethiopia (GIE), marking the first such initiative in the country.
Over the last two years, AHWA and its affiliated company NovaChem have conducted comprehensive hazardous chemical waste management training for numerous companies and national laboratories in Ethiopia. These include the Ethiopian Conformity Authority, the Ethiopian Mining Corporation, and the Geological Institute of Ethiopia. (Please refer to the enclosed certificates of acknowledgment for validation.)
Recently, AHWA and NovaChem disposed of outdated chemical waste accumulated for 40 years at the Geological Institute of Ethiopia (GIE). This marked a significant milestone as it was the first initiative conducted in the country.
Currently, HHWA and NovaChem are planning to dispose of large amounts of agrochemicals, such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, and clinical waste, including used needles and syringes, soiled dressings, diagnostic samples, blood, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals that have accumulated in the country over the past several years. This accumulation has caused a series of public health and safety issues. Before the coronavirus pandemic, this hazardous waste was being disposed of overseas. This initiative has been halted for various reasons, such as logistical challenges and a shortage of foreign currency. It is now considered a low priority for the Ethiopian government and must be undertaken by a community-based organization, such as AHWA. When undertaking this task, AHWA faces essential disposal equipment shortages, including high-temperature incinerators, waste gas treating devices, autoclaves, shredders, and lifting equipment, and seeks any help.
The 2023 Rethink Recycling Hack-a-thon brought together teams from all over the globe, startup ecosystem, corporate world, and civic organizations to develop innovative solutions to address the recycling problems in the City of Cincinnati and across our nation. This hack-a-thon was made possible by Cintrifuse and the City of Cincinnati. NovaChem has been awarded the Bet New Business Award!!!
The MOU will enable AASTU to have Oslo based global standard NOVA Chem. plc., in sectors of consultation on equipment specification and lab arrangement standards for its broad-based mineral exploration center of excellence.
President of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Dr. Dereje Engida, on the occasion said that the MOU will have significant importance on technology transfer and experience sharing on mineral exploration, geology, and mining sectors. According to Dr. Dereje’s statement, this will facilitate the wise use of resources on AASTU’s minerals exploration,
teaching learning process, research, and center of excellence development activities.
Professor Dejene Kifle, research scientist of mineral exploration of University of Oslo & the managing director of NOVA Chem. plc. expressed that Nova Chem. plc. is experienced on mineral exploration, chemical laboratory, physical characteristics, training, maintenance of related equipment, service, methodology and standard operating procedures. The plc. has recently started working with Ethiopian Geological Service, Bulehora University and Ethiopian mineral, petroleum & bio-fuel corporation, added Professor Dejene Kifle. And he has assured that his commitment to share his lifelong accumulated intellectual experience to academic staffs, researchers and students of AASTU.
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