Overview of the project

With a population of 1.3 million inhabitants, Mauritius generates around 1200 tons of waste daily. At this rate, the unique landfill of the island, the Mare Chicose Landfill, is expected to reach its saturation point
this year. The annual spending on waste management for the country is around 1.5 billion rupees. 64 % of the wastes produced by the country are organic waste. Burying of organic (vegetables or fruit peels) waste is not only a waste of resource but also generate methane, which is twenty five times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Moreover, there is no existing mechanism for the collection of e-waste (electronic) or other bulk waste (mattress and old wooden furniture) on a regular basis. The disposal of such waste in water stream or rivers may cause flood, as has been the case in various regions across the island.

Consequently, our community project aims at setting up a mechanism, in collaboration with various stakeholders, for the collection (on a regular basis) of such waste in the region of Trèfles. This would in turn reduce the risk of flood due to blocked stream and at the same time reduce the proliferation of insects which are vectors for diseases such as Malaria, Chikungunya and Dengue. The motto of the project is to sort, recycle and innovate for a better future’. A logo was created and it includes a bin, a flower made of the recycling icon and bears the motto of the project in Kreol Morisien “Triye, Resikle, Inove, Ensam nou ProgreC”. The concept developed in this project can then be extended to other regions of the country.

The solution to the problem is innovative in many terms: it is the first time a calendar for regular collection of e-waste is being established and sorting of waste is being encouraged. A paperless (minimal use of recycled paper) campaign was used and instead the following medium were used: facebook, news aired on radio, the team walked in the street to sensitise the residents.