Waste Management & Recycling
Waste management and recycling are crucial for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Seychelles where limited space and resources increases the negative impact of ineffective waste management.
Effective waste management practices protect ecosystems, ensure cleaner communities and build long-term resilience. S4S has played an active role in driving waste management projects and activities forward.
Waste Outreach for Schools
A waste outreach program, in collaboration with WiseOceans, was initiated by S4S outreach assistant Maria Boniface in March 2016. The program targeted schools, beginning with the Baie Lazare Primary School. In an engaging afternoon session, students of P5 to P6 learned about the effects of littering on the oceans. The students designed colorful educational signboards to display around the school and community, urging everyone to avoid littering.
Improving Civil Society Participation in Sustainable Waste Management
S4S received a grant from the GEF/SGP to support implementation of a series of activities aimed at engaging civil society in sustainable waste management.
A key component of the project involved community empowerment in increased participation in sustainable development decision-making, including issues concerning waste management. S4S worked with communities to set up Community Based Organizations, create an action plan, and implement their activities. S4S has worked with groups from Bel Ombre, Grand Anse Mahe, Port Glaud, Praslin, and la Digue. S4S has also provided assistance to existing groups in Roche Caiman, Plaisance, Les Mamelles, and St. Louis.
Other components of this project involved waste education and demonstration projects on composting, crushed glass, and e-waste. Through the project, S4S we able to support waste related initiatives by partner organizations, sponsoring the Eko-Ver competition on waste and creativity at the Natural History Museum as well as the Visual Arts School project on waste and fashion.
Waste Workshop for Businesses and Journalists
In September and November 2015, S4S conducted workshops for businesses and journalists respectively. S4S partnered with the Government and civil society for the support and assistance in delivering the workshops which were part of the S4S GEF SGP project, “Engaging Civil Society in Sustainable Waste Management”.
The workshops focused on sustainable waste management in Seychelles and aimed to foster a greater understanding among businesses and the media of the waste management challenges facing Seychelles. The sessions also aimed to build familiarity with the ongoing initiatives designed to address these issues.
S4S Partners with SYAH on Waste Issues
S4S has partnered with the Seychelles Youth AIMS Hub (SYAH) to promote waste management. S4S supported the SYAH Say No to Plastic Bags campaign funded by the GEF Small Grants Program. S4S assisted with a workshop for youth and importing 1000 cloth bags.
SYAH members assisted S4S with a TV advert to promote recycling of PET bottles and cans. S4S also took part in the Bann Zil Prop clean up at La Retraite in November 2015 and the Marine Debris Challenge at Bel Ombre along with the Bel Ombre Fishermen Association and the Bel Ombre Action Team. S4S plans to further strengthen its partnership with SYAH to jointly reduce waste across the Seychelles Islands.
Community Composting & Awareness
S4S’s efforts target various stakeholders including the community in activities such as community composting. In August 2015, in collaboration with the La Digue School and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) who provided technical expertise.
S4S has also engaged stakeholders through its local composter competition and compost machine initiatives with many great entries submitted by local participants and schools.
S4S has also produced a composting guide with the purpose of inspiring people to live sustainably.
E-Waste – Mobile Phone Recycling
Electronic waste including mobile phones contain hazardous materials which pose risks to the environment if not properly disposed . Recycling mobile phones helps recover valuable metals and reduces environmental impacts.
S4S partnered with local companies to set up a system to collect used and old mobile phones for recycling. Each company will be given a bin to accept donations from the public. Once bins are full, they will call one of the designated e-waste/scrap metal companies to collect them.
Recycling Bins for PET and Cans
S4S promotes the recycling of PET bottles and aluminum cans. S4S has purchased 12 bins and placed sticker on them encouraging people to choose to separate their waste into specific recycle bins. These bins were distributed on Mahe and Praslin.
Recycling – Take Away Box Alternative
One major project S4S has supported has been the move to identifying an alternative to polystyrene takeaway boxes. With the assistance of 3 takeaways on Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue, S4S has been able to test biodegradable sugarcane-based takeaway boxes.
In June 2015, S4S launched the Eco-box demonstration at the Praslin Expo. The boxes were made of sugarcane fiber. This initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the Praslin CBO with the help of Minister Adam and the SBC radio. Both Ministers Adam and Dogley confirmed their support for this campaign.
Recycled Jewelry and Crafts
In June 2015, S4S partnered with Women in Solidarity and Action (WASO) on two workshops facilitated by Mutindi Rachel from the IOC Islands project. An estimated 20 people were trained in techniques for making jewelry and other crafts out of waste materials like paper, cans, etc.
S4S also provided assistance with a follow-up workshop at Baie Lazare where members of the community shared what they had learned in the WASO training.
Glass Recycling/Crushing
In November 2009, S4S officially launched a project to promote the collection and re-use of glass waste in Seychelles.
The project was financially supported by a grant from the Regional Program for the Sustainable Management of the Coastal Zone of the Countries of the Indian Ocean Countries (ReCoMaP) funded by the European Union (EU).
The objective of the project was to divert glass waste from the dumping site at providence on Mahe and use it as construction fill or as raw material for artisanal crafts. The target group for glass waste collection was hotels, restaurants, and other organizations involved in the use of glass. Glass collection bins were provided to participating organizations willing to sort and donate their glass waste while larger establishments such as Tourism Resorts with large quantities of glass waste rent a skip for glass from STAR. The project ultimately helped hotels and restaurants improve their sustainability rating.
ReCoMaP covered the initial 18 months to run the pilot project after which it was expected that the project will be self-sufficient and through the sale processed glass if sufficient supply can be sourced to meet demand.
In 2013, The crushed glass project was displayed at the National Expo. S4S had conducted a workshop earlier during the year at the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) with masons and artists to show how crushed glass can be used in cement work.
Waste Task Force
Supported with funding from the GEF small grants program, S4S set up a civil society waste task force to assess the ways that non-state actors can play a more active role in sustainable waste management.
The first step involved gathering information about civil society perception and practices. Two reports are available on the matter regarding the status of waste management in Seychelles and one on resident’s perception and practices regarding waste and sustainable living.