Scottish Firm Welcomes Delegation From The Heart Of Africa

AN AYRSHIRE firm – aiming to build a landfill site in Africa which will help save thousands of lives – will play host to a fact-finding delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this week (June 25- 29).

Albion Environmental will be guiding the group around some of Scotland’s state-of-the-art waste disposal sites to show how our clean-up policies operate. The DRC officials are then hoping to replicate this best practice back in Kinshasa, the capital city, where it’s estimated 150 people drown each time it rains due to rubbish-filled drainage ditches.

Waste management sites in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Dumfriesshire will be toured by the officials who will also visit the Scottish Parliament. Organisers of the visit also plan to take the DRC representatives to the David Livingstone Memorial in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, as the explorer is held in high regard in the DRC.

In partnership with London based Net Consultancy Ltd (NCL) – who have expertise in African regeneration projects – Albion Environmental have helped push waste management issues to the top of Kinshasa’s priority list.

This is reflected by the arrival early next week of the DRC capital’s Vice Governor Bafiba Zomba Clement-Patrice – who is expected to join the original delegation on a visit to the Scottish Parliament.

Supported by South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, Albion’s Managing Director Alasdair Meldrum was invited recently to Kinshasa – which has a population almost double that of Scotland – to assess the waste infrastructure needs of the city.

Alasdair (36) said: “The scale of the problem in Kinshasa is massive. Hundreds of people drown each time it rains due to rubbish blocked drainage ditches, many more are electrocuted because exposed electricity cables lie in large puddles and that’s before you even take account of the problems caused by disease.

“Much of the population live, work and grow their food on top of rubbish and we aim to help them by building a landfill site in Kinshasa before the rainy season hits in September – so we are really in a race against time.

“This visit to Scotland by the DRC officials will give them an idea of the type of waste management facilities they should aspire to construct in Kinshasa. The officials in the DRC that we have met are committed to helping their people build a better future and we are delighted to help them do that.”

Mr Ruffin Bangu Mbuandi Pwaty, Provincial Environmental Co-ordinator for Kinshasa, said: “We were delighted that Albion Environmental and NCL Consultancy could come to Kinshasa recently to assess our needs. During this reciprocal visit to Scotland we are looking forward to seeing for ourselves just what we need to do to start alleviating our own problems. Our new generation of democratically elected politicians and officials passionately believe in building infrastructure in Kinshasa which will help our people flourish.”

NCL have quickly formed a strong partnership with Albion Environmental to take the project forward. Claude Paul Chineegadoo, Managing Director of NCL, said: “Both NCL and Albion Environmental want to help the people in Kinshasa help themselves. Our recent trip there was very worthwhile as waste management – which was not very high on their list of priorities – is now one of their most important objectives. This week’s visit will help the officials realise just what they have to do to really clean up Kinshasa.“

Ayrshire Firm Makes Headline News In Kinshasa

AN Ayrshire waste management firm’s expertise has made rubbish disposal a top priority for the nine million people in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Andre Kimbuta the Governor of Kinshasa recently invited Alasdair Meldrum, Managing Director of Ayr based Albion Environmental, to assess the possibilities for the city’s waste management future.

South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire supported Alasdair’s Kinshasa trip, which has been organised by African regeneration experts Net Consultancy Ltd – who have been contracted by the DRC government to oversee all the regeneration projects in their country.

Alasdair (36) said: "Waste management was a low priority, but as a result of our visit they now know that to build a healthy, functioning society they need to have robust plans in this area - this is now one of their top priorities.

“We were the talk of the town and all over the TV Radio and newspapers and everyone knew we were there to try to make a difference. The officials we met were so enthusiastic about the new democracy and so delighted that we'd taken the time to visit their country.

"I have to admit to being shocked at the conditions - the rubbish was just piled up everywhere you turned. The people there live on top of rubbish, they grow their food in it, their children play amongst discarded needles and blood bags. But they are ready and willing to make changes - and we can provide the expertise to help them achieve this.

"We met a lot of good people with a vision for their country and we feel we can help them achieve that vision. We're hopeful our skills can help. The hard work starts now and after seeing the plight of these friendly, genuine people, Albion Environmental are up for the challenge.

"We already have some plans in place to help transform Kinshasa. It's a big job but in the next four months we hope to have made the first steps towards cleaning up the city with a new landfill site. But we need the goodwill and support of the international community to ensure the good work continues."

Visit to Democratic Republic of Congo, 12th May – 19th May 2007
Report into the Key Waste Management Issues In Kinshasa, DRC

Alasdair Meldrum – Albion Environmental Ltd, Claude Paul Chineegadoo – Net Consultancy / Heart and Paul Clacker – Stoke on Trent City Council, were invited to visit Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo to learn about the waste management issues which were prevalent within the city and have produced a detailed report into the Key Waste Management Issues facing Kinshasa.

The Report into the Key Waste Management Issues is also available to download as a Pdf file.

AYRSHIRE FIRM'S AFRICAN VISIT WILL NOT BE WASTED

An Ayrshire waste management firm has travelled to Africa's third largest country in a bid to help clean up its capital Kinshasha

The new government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) invited Alasdair Meldrum Managing Director of Ayr based Albion Environmental to the capital Kinshasha this week to assess the possibilities for the country's waste management future

South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire have supported Alasdair in his Kinshasha bid, which has been coordinated by Net Consultancy Ltd - who are experts in African regeneration projects.

Alasdair said: "We are confident we have the expertise to ease the environmental problems facing the DRC, which is trying to reinvent itself after several years of conflict.

"While we are in the DRC we will see at first hand the problems they face and the kinds of sustainable waste management practices which we can help put in place especially in their capital."

"Scotland's waste management policy is one of the best in the world and we are sure the DRC representatives will be impressed with the services we can provide them with. We are delighted they have invited us to their country and we are hopeful our involvement can kick start their industry investment."

Last year's democratic elections in the DRC, which has a population of 60 million people, has inspired genuine hope for real change in politics, society and for the precious environment.

Five years of civil war and the lack of enforceable waste management procedures have left the DRC's environment in a terrible state. But the new forward-looking government recognises the need for a proper waste management policy and has turned to Albion Environmental to come up with a plan of action.

Ir. Ruffin Bangu Mbuandi Pwaty, Provincial Environmental Coordinator for Kinshasa, said: "We are excited that Albion Environmental are visiting to assess our waste management needs. The DRC is determined to implement similar ways of working mainly in the capital city of Kinshasha and there is a fantastic opportunity for a company such as Albion Environmental, who we have been thoroughly impressed by, to help us manage our waste properly."

The visit was put together by Net Consultancy Ltd (NCL), a London based firm specialising in regeneration projects in Africa, primarily DRC. Claude Paul Chineegadoo, Managing Director of NCL, said: "After meeting Alasdair and finding out about Albion Environmental, we had no hesitation in creating and putting this project forward to the DRC government. The DRC are working very hard to put in place the best waste policy programme they can and we are confident Albion can help make this a success."