Rio Tinto's Rössing Uranium mine, in partnership with various organisations, recently held a clean-up day along the main road between Arandis and Swakopmund.

The annual Wapaleka clean-up initiative saw over 200 participants, including students, representatives from various businesses and sponsors working to keep the environment clean.

The aptly named WAPALEKA campaign - which is an OshiWambo word meaning ‘clean-up' – aims to make an active contribution towards the cleanliness of the environment in which the mine operates.

Amanda Horn, Superintendent Community Relations at Rössing Uranium Mine commented on the event: “Over the years, the area has seen an increase of discarded litter, contributing to the pollution of an otherwise breathtaking desert landscape.”

“Prior to the initiative, the main items seen along the side the 56 km stretch between Swakopmund and Arandis were bottles, broken glass, plastic and paper as well as smashed vehicle windscreens and discarded tyres,” added Horn.

This year a total of 210 bags with rubbish consisting of tyre tread, bottles, glass and plastic, plastic bags, pieces of scrap metal, bottle caps and metal were collected.

The four-hour campaign concluded with participating teams being awarded with prizes for the cleanest areas.

The main sponsors of this event were Rössing Uranium Limited, Komatsu Namibia and Namibia Breweries.

Other partners were: Arandis Town council, West Coast Recyclers, Smith Sales and Services, Arandis Services, Erongo Contract Services, Arandis Community members, Basil Read, Namibia Engineering Corporation, Cymot and Swakopmund United Football Club.

The annual Wapaleka clean-up initiative saw over 200 participants, including students, representatives from various businesses and sponsors working to keep the environment clean.	This year a total of 210 bags with rubbish consisting of tyre tread, bottles, glass and plastic, plastic bags, pieces of scrap metal, bottle caps and metal were collected.