The cooperation has contributed to developed environmental booths in Västerås, organized source sorting, and new recycling stations in Gaborone, as well as cooperation with schools and residents in both cities. The projects have involved developing more sustainable waste management and strengthening local democracy through dialogue and participation from residents and schools. The latest project period has had a major focus on school information.
Vafabmiljö has been an important partner and contributed knowledge on how sorting, recycling, and information to residents can work in practice. During the week in Västerås, the delegation is visiting Stadsmissionen, Frälsningsarmén, Repris, and Fritidsbanken to see how reuse and social sustainability can be linked to waste management in practice. The cooperation between Västerås stad and Gaborone City Council is funded by the International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD).
For Västerås, the cooperation has provided new perspectives on how to work with resident dialogue, local engagement, and against littering. Officials noted that the cooperation has been built on knowledge exchange, with both cities sharing experiences and bringing back important lessons. They also highlighted concrete ways developed to reduce waste at schools and engage students in waste management.
The most valuable aspect has been the insight that recycling must be part of the future and can be implemented from the local to societal level, with school projects to be intensified and continued. The specific dates or duration of the delegation's visit this week have not been disclosed, and the total financial amount allocated by ICLD for this cooperation remains unknown. It is also unclear whether there are any plans for future cooperation or new projects between the cities after this conclusion.