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Tshole Trust has been commended for waste oil management, recovery and disposal throughout the country.
Speaking during the trust’s 21st Anniversary Gala Dinner in Gaborone on Friday, Ministry of Environment and Tourism acting permanent secretary, Ms Abigail Engleton applauded Tshole Trust for continued networking and collaborations to prevent pollution to the environment and human health.
Ms Engleton said since inception, the trust had installed 31 used oil receptacle tanks around the country, equipped in a way that were freely accessible to the communities living in those areas.
She said some empty tanks for used oil were placed at Gamodubu and Francistown landfills thus supporting the circular economy principle central to Integrated Waste Management Policy of 2021.
Ms Engleton further said the trust spearheaded several public education and awareness campaigns in collaboration with the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control on proper disposal of used and waste oil in order to contribute to a sustainable environment.
She said the ministry through the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control supervised several site rehabilitation projects for Tshole Trust and that the trust had continuously raised funds for corporate social responsibility in partnership with the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control, to sensitise the public on used oil management matters.
The trust went a step ahead by collaborating with the Department of Environmental Affairs, in safeguarding the environment against pollution through implementation of comprehensive environmental management plans, said Ms Engleton.
However, Ms Engleton stated that some opportunities remained untapped in terms of promoting used oil value chains, and those would generate the much needed jobs especially for youth.
She therefore, challenged companies dealing with used oils to be innovative, adding that government remained committed to providing an opportunity to thrive and grow.
Ms Engleton called for more researchers and academic institutions to do more, to realise a knowledge based economy.
Tshole Trust vice chairperson, Mr Ofentse Hahn said the aim of the trust was to monitor, coordinate and increase effectiveness of Botswana’s waste oil management recommendations infrastructure, while elevating awareness of responsible waste oil management throughout the country.
Mr Hahn highlighted that Tshole Trust was assisted by clean up and oil collectors, oil marketers through a levy from oil sales, saying for every litre of virgin oil imported by lubricant marketers, there was a donation to the trust which assisted it to achieve its mandate.
Different companies were awarded certificates of appreciation and contribution in making sure that used oil does not endanger the lives of people.
Tshole Trust is a non-governmental organisation established through a Notarial Deed of Trust in 2004, with an overall objective to monitor, coordinate and increase effectiveness of Botswana’s waste oil management infrastructure, while elevating an awareness of responsible waste oil management throughout the country. Ends
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