An evaluation of the policies, strategies and legal framework for sustainable waste management in Mauritius

Abstract

This study assesses the degree of adequacy of the national policies, strategies and legal framework for sustainable waste management in Mauritius. To attain this aim, the wasteaware benchmark indicator ‘adequacy of national framework for solid waste management’ is analysed using secondary data through its application at a countrywide level, which is a novel approach as this indicator was previously used only for cities. The results demonstrate a MEDIUM compliance level, with an overall score of 54% for the afore-stated indicator. The strengths engendering this score comprise the presence of well-defined government-approved waste management strategies, whose implementation fall within the responsibility of a dedicated National entity, and adequate enforcement of the currently applicable waste management-related legislations. However, major weaknesses hindering the achievement of a higher score are the lack of a legislative framework dedicated solely to waste management that has already moved fully to implementation, the absence of enactments which reflect all of the planned waste management undertakings as per the current strategies, the lack of comprehensive and implementable regulations for Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship and the absence of implementable regulations for waste management facility siting in line with environmental justice and equity.