The E52 million Matsapha Healthcare Risk Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility in Eswatini is now fully operational and ready to receive healthcare waste from health facilities across the country. The facility was officially handed over to the Ministry of Health and Matsapha Town Council on November 3, 2026. This handover marks the conclusion of an investment aimed at improving the management of healthcare risk waste, protecting public health, and safeguarding the environment.
The facility was commissioned by Prime Minister Russell Dlamini in March 2026. The National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA) handed over the facility after the successful completion of the final commissioning and performance testing of its incinerator. The testing was completed by Macrotec on October 30, 2026, with a Site Completion Certificate subsequently issued. NERCHA confirmed that the facility's equipment was fully operational and ready for immediate use.
The handover also followed the completion of a pre-handover inspection and operator training for the V500 Dry Plant on October 30. The facility operators were already capable of independently operating the plant, indicating that the training had prepared them to take responsibility for its operations. Three healthcare waste management trucks have been delivered to the Ministry of Health to facilitate the safe transportation of healthcare waste from health facilities across the country to the Matsapha treatment facility.
During the handover, NERCHA presented the Ministry of Health and Matsapha Town Council with the keys to the facility and a file containing essential authorisation, compliance, and operational documents. These documents include the Permit to Occupy issued under the Building Act, 1968, the Fire Safety Certificate issued in terms of the Fire Safety Precautions Act, 1968, as well as the Site Completion Certificate and the owner's manual for the incinerator plant.
A three-year Commercial Consumer Licence for petroleum products had been secured, valid until March 2029. However, the future operators are expected to finalise the necessary fuel supply arrangements with the preferred vendor to ensure the facility's continued operation. The handover also follows the signing of an Operational Agreement between the Ministry of Health and Matsapha Town Council, which provides a framework for the joint management, operation, and oversight of the facility.
NERCHA emphasised that the long-term success of the investment would depend on continued collaboration between the responsible institutions, effective governance, adequate financing, and routine maintenance. Comprehensive insurance coverage and the timely replacement of critical equipment whenever required are also crucial. NERCHA expressed confidence that the Ministry of Health and Matsapha Town Council would safeguard the investment and ensure that the facility continued to serve the country effectively and sustainably.
The E52 million facility is expected to strengthen the country's capacity to manage healthcare risk waste through a dedicated treatment and disposal site. The facility will enhance the country's ability to handle healthcare waste, ultimately protecting public health and the environment. The investment is a significant step towards improving healthcare waste management in Eswatini.
Key points
- The E52 million Matsapha Healthcare Risk Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility is now operational in Eswatini.
- The facility was handed over to the Ministry of Health and Matsapha Town Council after successful commissioning and testing.
- The facility is expected to strengthen the country's capacity to manage healthcare risk waste and protect public health and the environment.
