Waste management requires cultural revision

Environment
Waste management

Mukundi Mutasa

Inappropriate waste management practices appear deeply engraved into Zimbabwean cultures, where the habit of throwing litter anywhere but the bin is now commonly accepted as normal. This is despite the correlation that poor waste management has with the negative effects on the environment and human health. The current Zimbabwe Environment Outlook identifies dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera, malaria and respiratory infections as the main diseases associated with inappropriate waste management practices in the country. Some of these diseases manifest themselves in the short-term, while others will affect unborn-generations. The cholera epidemic which affected Zimbabwe in 2008/09 was a direct impact of poor waste management, which was worsened by a decline in service delivery and a weakened economy. Only recently, the urban health departments have been struggling to control incidences of typhoid; another disease often transmitted through consuming unhygienic food and contaminated water and directly linked to poor waste management. Waste management seemingly became secondary during the period Zimbabwe endured crippling economic challenges in the post-2000 period. The country, which has since partially resurrected from the throes of a crippling economic crisis, faces a stern test in the management of its waste. This is largely because the institutions mandated with waste collection fell victim to the economic challenges and now have limited capacity to manage waste effectively. The economic crisis resulted in limited investment into waste management infrastructure and service delivery, as indicated in the Zimbabwe Environment Outlook. As such, collection of waste especially in urban areas became erratic, and at some point was non-existent, leaving residents with an excuse to establish illegal dumpsites, throw litter off moving vehicles, nicodemously dump garbage in open spaces or burn their waste. Waste that is now commonly found at illegal dumpsites includes used condoms, bloodstained sanitary pads, and diapers (both adult and baby). All these pose a serious health hazard. It is unfortunate that human waste that used to be sacred and taboo to be seen in public, such as men’s semen and women’s menstrual blood, is now a common feature at illegal dumpsites especially in our urban areas. Of course the local authorities are facing challenges collecting waste, but that is no reason to abandon our morals and expose other residents to the dangers associated with such waste. “After all, it is not cultural to throw away human waste,” Environmental Management Agency spokesperson, Steady Kangata, was recently quoted in a local weekly as saying. The economic crisis in Zimbabwe also resulted in people losing their spirit of volunteerism and community involvement. Everything has to have an incentive — a monetary incentive.It is that legacy that now requires a cultural revolution where people return to the basics of hygiene; repossess their volunteerism and move from their belief that throwing litter everywhere is their contribution to job creation. Zimbabwe requires an integrated multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach to waste management if the challenge is to be adequately addressed. The participation of various stakeholders such as private companies, public institutions and communities is key to identifying and implementing strategies to address waste management challenges. For example, Environment Africa, with the assistance from the Retail Association of Zimbabwe, collaborates with various key stakeholders to educate residents and clean up the environment in urban and peri-urban areas, as well as schools around the country. The stakeholders include the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management, EMA, Miracle Missions, local authorities, community based organisations, and community volunteers. Clean-up campaigns help in instilling the spirit of volunteerism and community participation in addressing the ills of society. The Zimbabwe Environment Outlook also identified the shortage of bins in urban areas, particularly Harare, as a contributing factor to the problem of litter that have turned most areas into environmental eyesores. In response, Environment Africa also installs bins as part of its activities to encourage cleanliness mainly at shopping centres. Recently, the organisation installed five bins of 200litre capacity at Avondale Shopping Centre. However, such campaigns on their own are not enough. Bins might be everywhere and at strategic points in our cities, but people might still continue to throw litter all over the place.

 

Mukundi Mutasa works for Environment Africa as the Business and Biodiversity Officer but writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted via email at [email protected] / [email protected]