National Awareness and Training Workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Lesotho

Effective waste management planning and the transition toward a circular economy require institutionalising sustainable financing mechanisms that hold producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their packaging and products EPR is internationally recognised as a leading policy instrument to shift the financial and operational burden of waste management from overstretched municipal authorities to producers, brand owners, and importers.

In Lesotho, while progressive steps have been taken through legal regulations and the launch of the National Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy in 2026, the lack of structured private sector take-back obligations and low recycling infrastructure constrain circularity goals. To address these capacity gaps, it is essential to build local technical capacity among government officers, municipalities, businesses, and informal sector organisations. Building a coherent national EPR framework requires standardising administrative guidelines, exploring Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) governance, and developing context-appropriate financial mechanisms. In addition, integration of informal waste reclaimers is vital to ensure social equity and operational efficiency. This workshop was organised to catalyse this transition by providing targeted training, facilitating cross-sectoral dialogue, and extracting applicable lessons from successful regional models like South Africa and Southeast Asia.

• ● Introduction to EPR featured an online presentation by Prof. C. Visvanathan (Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Thailand), who explained the global evolution of EPR from a voluntary measure to a mandatory policy tool, explaining how the circular economy cannot function without producer-funded collections.
• ● Waste Management and Recycling System in Lesotho shifted the focus to the local context. Motseki Khuto (Maseru City Council) presented a detailed overview of the waste management gaps in Maseru, highlighting financial constraints, uncollected volumes, and the critical need for a structured recovery system supported by municipal ordinances and private capital.
• ● EPR Experiences from South Africa brought invaluable regional context by Jeremia Sibande (Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South Africa) and shared South Africa's comprehensive packaging, lighting, and e-waste EPR models. 
  This was followed by a presentation on successful EPR case studies from Southeast Asia by Dr. Pham Ngoc-Bao and Ezra Osorio (IGES, SCP unit)
• ● Informal Sector Integration to EPR in Lesotho by Prof. Timothy Thamae (University of Lesotho), which established a framework for protecting vulnerable waste collectors while formalising recycling chains.
• ● Role of PRO in EPR focused on the role of PRO and the and grassroots alignment presented by Julia Gawlik (PRO Circularity Alliance) discussing the concrete roles, responsibilities, and financing options of Producer Responsibility Organizations.
• ● Luyanda Hlatshwayo (Africa Reclaimers Organisation - ARO, South Africa) delivered an inspiring presentation on EPR from the informal reclaimers' perspective, sharing grassroots organising methods.
• ● Interactive Group Discussion moderated by Dr. Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage, IGES-CCET to capture stakeholder feedback in real-time. Participants brainstormed key enabling conditions, policy blockages, and next coordination steps. The workshop concluded with closing remarks from.