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Thematic Report: Wastes and Environment in Zimbabwe

by Makomborero Muzunde | 23-02-2021 04:51




Our country is still developing a waste management system which is being pushed by the private entities and the government. The government declared the first Friday of each month to be a clean up campaign day as its baby steps to a sustainable environment and waste disposal system. Everyone has a part to play for Zimbabwe to be a clean country which has better recycling systems. Individuals also play a significant role in waste management goal achievement as it is implemented at grass rooots for achievement. 

My recycling routine start with waste sorting. I sort waste according to its type and put it into its respective bin. Organic waste such as vegetables, fruits and lawn grass I put it on my composting pile and garden mulching. I stack up paper waste that is mainly old school exercise books, paper packaging boxes and old magazines so that I will sell them to National Waste Collection when I see their trucks. Plastic constitute a large proportion of my household waste so I usually select the PET bottles and put them in a black plastic sack so that I give it to the PET recyclers. The rest of the plastic waste I put it into a city council refuse bin so that it can be collected by the municipal refuse collectors on Monday. 

When I was growing up my mother could not want to throw away things before she certified them as waste. Many people in Zimbabwe throw something in the refuse bin if theyare satisfied that it is useless. 500ml ice cream boxes we used them as lunch boxes at school, potato sacks are used to compliment a washing sponge in the scullery, 300ml jam jars we sold them to those who were in the business of home-made peanut butter making. Even now it is my policy to re-use for example ex-drink bottles as containers to store water for kitchen use. Old clothes and rugs blankets make beautiful door step mats if crafted with innovative and creative mind being colourful. 

Many companies have started to implement recycling programmes with their companies and communities. Delta Corporations, a beverage company has its subsidiary Petrico-Zimbabwe that recycles PET bottles and it has many collection points and collectors that collect PET bottles for recycling. Also Delta use the returnable glass bottles for its beverages as a part of its recycling strategy that it is implementing. Fast-foods outlet have moved to reduce plastic through using paper packaging boxes. Econet lauched e-recycling of electronic products waste such as old phones. Companies are reacting to the need of waste management systems through innovative ways and recycling. This has seen many companies setting up agency in the communities to collect scrap steel and old car batteries in exchange for cash. The waste management and disposal long term plan will help in providing employment for the local people and reducing waste