Upcoming conference: ‘Implementation of Circular Economy regulations in the SADC region’

Developing countries, especially in Africa, have been struggling to sustainably manage their waste. Factors including rising populations, increased economic growth, and the rural-urban drift have led to increased generation of waste that hasn’t been met with equivalent sustainable waste management systems. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are facing urgent demand to improve their waste management situation.

To help to address the waste issues that SADC countries are currently facing, the European Union (EU), the SADC Business Council, and Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) have jointly organised a two-day hybrid conference: Implementation of Circular Economy regulations in the SADC region. It will be held both online and face-to-face in Lusaka, Zambia on 22 and 23 February 2023. A range of stakeholders will attend the conference in person, including representatives from the Zambian Government, development banks and agencies, the SADC Business Council, the EU, and other regional bodies. Those not based in Zambia who wish to attend the conference are encouraged to attend virtually.

The objectives of the conference are to:

• Convene SADC member states to commonly agree and actively participate in a Circular Economy and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) platform which will be discussed during the workshop.
• Use the platform as a basis to implement EPR within the SADC member states and better understand which legal, technical, human, and financial resources will be required to implement country-based initiatives.
• Establish a joint public-private solution that will address the prevailing challenge of pollution and open dumpsites in Southern Africa, through developing a sustainable Circular Economy platform.
• Strengthen the EPR and develop a funding mechanism for collection and treatment of municipal solid waste.

A range of conference sessions are planned, including ‘The role of private sector in promoting and financing Circular Economy and the EPR’, ‘EPR from a regulatory perspective’, and ‘Why data collection is so important for the implementation of circular economy concepts’.

You can register to attend the ‘Implementation of Circular Economy regulations in the SADC region’ conference virtually, and view the conference programme and concept note on the SADC website.