Residents welcome three bin litter system

Environment
Sammy joins his friends along 109th Street in Harare’s Warren Park D suburb and immediately begins to “unpack” a smouldering mound of garbage in search of toys.

LITTLE Sammy joins his friends along 109th Street in Harare’s Warren Park D suburb and immediately begins to “unpack” a smouldering mound of garbage in search of toys and any other items of amusement.

Environment with Tendai Makaripe

These children are evidently ignorant of the dangers harboured in the rotting uncollected and burning garbage, which they find pleasure in playing with.

This unpleasant scenario is not only common in Warren Park but it is replayed in almost all high-density suburbs across the city of Harare everyday, as innocent children plod through choking smoke from burning garbage. The risk of contracting diseases looms large.

The loud cries for help by distressed residents who have been forced by circumstances to accept living in the midst of garbage have not been heeded. Residents part ways with their hard earned cash every month when they pay what is due to the city council but they get a raw deal.

It is clear for everyone to see that the city fathers have failed! However, all hope is not lost. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Boost-Enactus, a non-governmental organisation, is running a programme that provides university students with the best opportunity to make a difference in the community by developing the lives of others.

The programme involves students identifying problems in the different communities and finding ways to rectify them. There are no prizes for guessing that one of the major challenges communities are facing today is the non-collection of refuse.

The lack of a proper waste management system in the city is a problem that has led to the rampant rise of dumping sites, exposing people to severe health hazards.

Like a number of organisations that are making an effort to help solve the waste management, problem, members of the Boost-Enactus’ University of Zimbabwe (UZ) chapter have taken it upon themselves to play a part in solving the crisis.

They have introduced the “three bin system” to communities, where they are preaching the gospel of separating litter at source. This means that plastic, paper and biodegradables are each put in separate bins.

Irvine Chimedza, president of the Boost-Enactus UZ team says the problem of non-collection of waste has had dire effects on the health of residents and hence the decision to swiftly act and try to help solve the issue.

“Due to various reasons, refuse collection in many places has been a problem. Many of us have had to find alternative ways of refuse disposal, including dump sites which have negative health impacts on us. We therefore sat down and formulated the three bin system for the good of our communities,” he said.

Recently, the Boost-Enactus UZ and Proudly Zimbabwean Foundation took their message to Mbare, one of Harare’s most populous suburbs, where they donated bins to households and explained the three bin concept.

This initiative was welcomed by residents who have been living with so much dirt for a long time.

Students have set up the Mukuvisi Plastic Cooperation, a group of waste collectors who collect litter for resale to various companies who need it. Hence, while the waste challenge is lessened, the group of youths will also be able to make a living from selling the waste.

It is easy for residents to point fingers at the Harare City Council when litter is not collected, but this is not the time to play the blame game. Communities should strategise, just as Boost- Enactus UZ has done, to come up with solutions that can help solve the waste problem.

Living in a safe and healthy environment begins with you.

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