PLASTIC pollution and solid waste management are threatening communities in Zimbabwe.
Without doubt, both the above mentioned are causing more harm in disrupting the ecosystem.
Pollution by plastics and poor solid waste management in the country have not only contributed to destroying the environment but threaten human health.
Zimbabwe remains one of the countries in Southern Africa facing outbreaks of cholera, a disease which thrives in environments with poor hygiene, sanitation, lack of clean water and high mismanagement of waste.
According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Zimbabwe generates more than 300 000 tonnes of plastic waste every year, yet recycling is minimal.
Recycling remains low due to lack of knowledge, ignorance, as well as breeding of a negative attitude and culture towards participating in cleaning the environment.
The Government of Zimbabwe, every year, observes World Environment Day while EMA conscientises people on various ways to manage waste, but are there concrete steps towards reduction of this pollution?
Permanent Secretary of the Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ambassador Raphael Faranisi is on record stressing the importance of collaboration of various stakeholders in curtailing plastic pollution in the country.
“There is an urgent need globally and locally to address the threat of plastic pollution, and the only way we can do so is through collaboration and engaging to fund innovative ways to stop plastic pollution,” said Ambassador Faranisi.
“In Zimbabwe, only 10 percent of the waste generated is being recycled and this calls for more to be done to change the narrative.”
Sources of plastic pollution and solid waste in the country include industry, educational institutions, food outlets, households and medical or health institutions, among others.
It is through these sources that land and water is being polluted and there is also a clog of sewer systems resulting in sewer bursts.
During the rain season, solid waste and plastic pollution clog storm drains resulting in trash flooding.
A 2022 report by UNDP states that over a quarter of the total global mismanaged plastic waste was leaked into the watersheds of 14 major rivers around the world, including four big African rivers – the Congo, Niger, Nile and Zambezi.
There is also a danger to wildlife and livestock if plastic and solid waste is ingested.
Children, on the other hand, are the most vulnerable to plastic pollution which can lead to suffocation.
Due to ignorance and lack of knowledge on how to manage plastic waste, it is said, every year, eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in the oceans; equating to one lorry load every minute.
Statistics also show that more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year worldwide, half of which are designed to be used only once.
Less than 10 percent of that is recycled.
Around the world, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year.
In total, half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes, meaning it is used just once and then thrown away.
Seeing that the continent is slow on waste recycling, the AU implemented a 10-year plan from 2014-2023 for Agenda 2063 which stipulated African cities to recycle at least 50 percent of the waste they generate.
The question that comes to mind is: Are African cities committing to recycling of waste?
Ambassador Faranisi said Zimbabwe is doing everything possible to come up with sustainable solutions that can ease plastic pollution.
“I am happy to say the Government is stepping up efforts to push Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and create a circular economy which reduces, reuses and recycles plastic more sustainably,” said Ambassador Faranisi.
According to Ambassador Faranisi, we urgently need appropriate infrastructure that receives and processes plastic waste and ensures its reuse.
Therefore, there is need for local authorities to engage consumers and other key stakeholders in addressing plastic pollution to influence the market and to inspire behavioural change.
The Government, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, in conjunction with UNICEF recently launched ‘Clean Green Zimbabwe’, an initiative to strengthen climate resilience and environmental management by cultivating children and young people to be environmental stewards and mobilise collective actions in schools and communities.
It aims to establish clean green schools, communities and urban spaces with climate resilient WASH, health, education services, practical learning spaces, clean energy and integrated waste management.
The UNDP, on the other hand, acknowledge the work of the Government of Zimbabwe’s leadership in spearheading interventions towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals – particularly SDG11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production.
The ‘National Clean Up Day’, for example, is a long-standing legacy that demonstrates Zimbabwe’s commitment to and pride in a clean and healthy environment.
It is observed on the first Friday of every month.
The major drivers of improper solid waste management are usually due to mismatch between waste generation and management, unsustainable consumption patterns, illegal settlements and negative attitudes from the public.
For the nation, therefore, to achieve a clean, safe and healthy environment, there is need to urge public participation at growth points, towns, villages, farms and everywhere.
All citizens have a role play in promoting sustainable waste management.
To curb plastic pollution and reduce waste in the country, it is important to come up with strategies that can assist in the management of plastic and solid waste.
Some of the strategies include reducing the use of plastic, reusing plastic, remanufacturing, redesigning, composting, waste segregation and, most importantly, recycling.
