Waste Management, Energy, and Water Use
The team has developed programs for integrating sustainable practices in the community and hopes to set an example, so these practices become more approachable and accessible to others.
Programs range from recycling and composting for proper waste management, to erosion management, irrigation, and electricity, to ensure a safe, clean, and efficient space for living and working. Since 2013, water purification systems have slowly been installed in an effort to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles in favor of stainless-steel water bottles. In recent years, the Trust sent between 85-90% of its waste for recycling, and since its inception, Malilangwe has seen an over 90% decrease in plastic water bottle use.
This department proactively leads these programs that create more sustainable lifestyle choices for those on the Reserve, one of those being The Nappy Project, which created an alternative to disposable nappies. Within a year, over 1,000 modern nappies were purchased and the weight of disposable nappies waste went down by 70%.
The Trust also has solar power projects and water harvesting systems in development, as well as the Alien Invasive Plant Eradication Project that leverage the resources in the Reserve’s natural environment and aim to maintain the environment for the health, safety, and quality of life at Malilangwe.
