Some of the waste being dumped is clearly poisoning the soil. Even more worryingly, these dumps are literally 100 metres from the river, and even less, from its adjacent wetland. Symptomatic of the waste management crisis in our city, dumps like these are everywhere, in wetlands, woodlands, roadsides, across the city.
They are an eyesore and a health hazard, releasing toxins and pathogens into our ground water. These ones are particularly sinister because they have been placed very well out of sight of passing residents, no doubt in the hope they will go unreported.
Recycling is the current hot enviro topic in this part of the world, as we begin to follow global trends, long established in developed countries, for waste management and sustainable resource consumption.
With growing awareness of the finite nature of resources we humans have plundered and continue to plunder for our chosen, settled, lifestyle and for our pleasure and economic enrichment, the practices adopted for most economically using those resources include strategies to re-use and recycle all that can be recycled, at every step of the production process, and at individual household level.
The responsibility must be shared by all, from individuals in their homes, to manufacturers and businesses, to governments and law makers, or the problem of waste, and sustainable use of scarce resources so often taken for granted, cannot be managed effectively.
Our own recently launched Zimbabwe National Recycling Programme (ZNRP) is an exciting development, and a first for sub-Saharan Africa.
A collaboration between the Environmental Management Agency, the Ministry for Environment, VertMedia, and so far 58 professional institutions and associations, to pilot systematic recycling in Zimbabwe, the programme is endorsed and supported by the Harare City Council (HCC) which urgently needed the assistance of the private sector and public at large to contain our massive waste management problem.
The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce is actively involved in pioneering the project. Following the initial awareness drive, July will see the concrete evidence of ZNRP, as it pilots at household level in Kuwadzana, and at industrial level in Willowvale, where the initial survey has already taken place.
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Dumping causes health risks
The most serious outcome of current widespread dumping of rubbish, toxic industrial waste and effluent all over cities and into water sources, is the presence and spread of life-threatening diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid, and the contamination by toxins and pathogens, of our water supply. These diseases adversely affect economic growth and tourism, through lowered productivity and reduced tourist numbers.
Individuals have a role to play in recycling process
I recently attended and spoke at a productive workshop on recycling for environmental journalists, aimed to increase knowledge of the programme and of recycling principles, equipping writers with greater background knowledge about the issues involved in waste management.
Speakers included Dr RG Bonde, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, on the frightening health impacts of poorly managed waste, Wilson Matimba, founder of VertMedia who facilitated the workshop throughout, and Stewart Mutizwa, chairman of HCC’s Environmental Management Committee. 25 participants addressed searching questions around the fundamental issues of waste management and recycling. Interesting and enlightening discussions ensued.
The media will play a key role in the success of the programme which requires the active participation and commitment of all of us from household level upwards, to corporations and relevant municipal and government agents.
As individuals we will separate our rubbish at source into plastics, paper and cardboard, glass, cans and biodegradables. Recycling can only be effected at national level with this primary contribution from individuals in their homes, so a huge amount of awareness must be created to ensure success.
The creation of proper landfills is a priority in the programme. These in turn will be harnessed for energy production from the gases they emit, an inexpensive source of renewable power.
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