Context (Solid Waste Management)

The Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) plays a key role in the following:

• Operation and Maintenance of:
     The Mare Chicose Landfill – Vertical Expansion
     Transfer Stations
     Interim Storage Facility for Hazardous Wastes (ISFHW) and 
     Civic Amenity Centres (CACs)
• Management of:
     Hazardous (Export); and 
     Non-Hazardous wastes (Condemned Goods, Unserviceable, etc.)

Useful Links

• Solid Waste Management Division Website
• Legislation
• Circular Economy Theme
• Registered Recyclers and Exporters
• List of Registered Scavenging Contractors

Issues at Stake

The management of solid waste in Mauritius impacts several critical areas:

• Environmental Degradation: Poor disposal and treatment can lead to significant pollution.

• Resource Scarcity: Limited land availability necessitates innovative waste reduction and recycling approaches.

• Tourism and Waste: The high volume of tourists significantly increases waste production, necessitating robust management to maintain Mauritius' environmental health and image.

Challenges

Mauritius faces various challenges in the solid waste sector:

• Land and Space Limitations: With limited land available, traditional disposal methods like landfilling are unsustainable.

• Increasing Waste Volumes: 1500 tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated daily which ends up in the Mare Chicose landfill.

• Cost of Management: Approx. Rs. 2.1 billion is spent annually on solid waste management, including solid waste collection, transport, transfer and landfilling.

• Lack of segregation of wastes: There is no segregation of wastes.

Vision of SWMD

• To achieve a sustainable waste management system in Mauritius through resource recovery and adoption of a circular economy approach.

Mission of SWMD

• Provide a safe and sound management of solid and hazardous waste;
• Recover resource and materials from waste;
• Contribute to protection of the environment and to public health for present and future generations.
   

Contact details of Solid Waste Management Division

Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change (Solid Waste Management Division)  

Level 3, NeXSky Building, Cybercity, Ebène

Tel: +(230) 490 4400

Email: swmd@govmu.org 

New Waste Management Strategy

About 541,141 tonnes of waste were landfilled in 2023. With an estimated waste growth of 2% per annum and based on a BAU scenario, some 650,000 tonnes of waste are expected to be landfilled in 2030. Organic wastes contributing to methane emission represent about 50% of the total waste generated in Mauritius.  The only sanitary landfill also features advanced leachate and gas collection systems that effectively mitigate the environmental impacts associated with waste disposal. The collected landfill gas undergoes combustion for electricity generation. In 2023, 13.3 GWh of electricity was produced from landfill gas and exported on the grid. A new Waste Management Strategy with focus on resource recovery is under implementation. The setting up of two Integrated Waste Processing Facilities (IWPFs) by 2029 will divert recyclable waste including organic waste. Anaerobic digestion of some 40,000 tons of organic waste will further contribute to remove methane from national emissions. Domestic Funds (both public and private) will be required for the implementation of the IWPF, Extended Producer Responsibility, Anaerobic Digestion and Waste to Energy projects (Source : NDC 3.0).

Policies and Regulations

The Ministry's Solid Waste Management Division plays a crucial role in safeguarding the environment and public health through efficient waste management. Current policies include:

• National Waste Management Strategy: Guides waste reduction, collection, treatment, and disposal efforts.

• Solid Waste Management Regulations: Mandate proper waste handling practices to minimize environmental impacts.

• Investment in Infrastructure: Significant funding is allocated to waste collection, transport, processing, and facility maintenance.

• Public Education and Engagement: Ongoing campaigns improve public participation in waste management, emphasizing waste characterization studies to tailor strategies to local needs.