A visit to Pomona dump-site leaves one in no doubt that the capital is struggling with waste disposal.
REPORT BY TAFADZWA MURANGANWA
A survey of many residential areas also revealed that illegal dumpsites are mushrooming at an alarming rate and, in some instances, have become “playgrounds” for young children.
According to Environment Africa, the country’s waste management strategies employ the traditional closed system which focuses only on the collection, transportation and disposal of waste.
The organisation said this system was failing to cope with the large amounts of waste being generated and noted that there was need to employ a more sustainable approach anchored on the reduction and recycle principles.
It is in this regard that Environmental Africa is pushing the concept of waste separation at source, use of colour-coded bins and liners for waste separation and ultimately recycling.
“Waste is segregated according to type and recyclability from the waste stream at point of generation or source. Recyclable wastes include paper, glass, plastic, polystyrene, cans or tins and biodegradable waste,” Environment Africa said in a report.
“These are put separately, stacked in their own specific bin liners to avoid contamination with other recyclables this will lead to decongesting of dump-sites.”
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The organisation has showcased at various events such as Hifa 2013 event, OK Grand Challenge and the Harare Agricultural Show and says experiences have shown that almost 70% of what is considered rubbish, is in fact recyclable waste with 30% compostable waste, living virtually nothing for the dump site.
An entrepreneur who is into plastic-recycling, Mary Wazara, is confident about a cleaner nation if proper waste managementstrategies are put in place.
“We are empowering communities through buying from them waste plastics that we are recycling in our business,” said Wazara, who is the managing director for Plastix Incorporated.
She said at a cost of 25 cents per kg, many communities are making a living out of these plastics. “Many of our waste collectors are eking a living through selling waste plastic to us and now they can afford to pay their rentals and cover other day-to-day necessities such as food and sending their children to schools.
“We work with waste collectors from Mukuvisi, Victoria Falls, Plumtree, Tafara and recently I have heard feedback from people in Beitbridge where we conducted training on waste collection and separation who have expressed interest,” she said.
Wazara said that the initiative of working with community-based organisations (CBOs) had spurred her business, a point that is also supported by Environment Africa where it says because of low operating capacity of recycling companies such as ZimGlass and National Waste Collections, community groups becomes essential providers of raw materials, while some even use the waste to make artefacts.
She also said their business had seen reduction in importation costs, falling by 40%-50% since it started working with CBOs.
However, she said more was required from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
“EMA should weigh in strongly on formulating policies that will deal efficiently with waste management for us to have a cleaner environment, while also providing a lifeline to many people who are unemployed,” she said.
The environmental enthusiast said she was now doubling as manager of Derrick Mpofu, who is the country’s Green Ambassador, to raise the awareness on waste management.
“Being young as he is, the message he conveys in his song will be heard by the younger generation and it will mean a lot in addressing this global issue,” she quipped.
Wazara said she was glad to have worked with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) on projects which won this year’s Enactus Zimbabwe National Competition.
The team’s winning projects included a two-tiered effort that addressed waste management and recycling of plastics, as well as a project that established an upholstery business to enhance individual skills and promote opportunities for unemployed youth.
Other projects from various teams focused on viable methods of farming, recycling, empowering women and sustainable environmental management.
The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change asserted in its report that it is 95% human activity that is causing global change and waste management become one key factor to reduce the phenomena.
According to Environmental Africa, there is the need for the government to revive industrial recycling and create more markets for recycled products.
More environmental awareness campaigns are needed on waste separation, it concludes in its paper. Zimbabwe will host a waste management conference between November 5 and 6, where it will present a platform to discuss current trends in waste management policy, financing, planning and regulation.
The conference will also address areas of waste management, including waste treatment options, multi stakeholder participation, waste management economics and capacity and expertise in waste management.
It will also look at sustainability, and waste recycling options as well as successful implementation of integrated solid waste management. The event will be running under the theme Developing waste management strategies.
