What to do with all the rubbish?

Zimbabwe's politically engineered economic downturn has resulted in a severe collapse of solid waste management in most urban areas. In a bid to redress the situation, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management is to initiate a baseline assessment for developing an integrated solid waste management plan for the country.

It is reliably understood that the plan will lead to an inventory of waste infrastructure and waste sources. An indicative map of sources of waste generation, quantities and composition of solid waste generated from different sources in the country and the current waste treatment infrastructure will be formulated.

As a result of improper waste disposal mechanisms massive heaps of waste have accumulated in most urban set ups of Zimbabwe resulting in most authorities failing to cope with disposal.

Most municipalities have failed to provide an efficient waste collection and disposal system resulting in residents indiscriminately dumping waste causing environmental pollution.

Residents in major cities like Harare are now resorting to digging deep trenches for dumping waste. However, most of the trenches are left open and are now potential breeding spots for flies and mosquitoes.

According to Dr Timothy Stamps, Health Advisor for the government of Zimbabwe, solid waste if left to accumulate can be breeding grounds for flies and rodents that can transmit diseases like malaria or cause diarrhoea.

He added that children were also exposed to injury and poisoning by hazardous waste. In Zimbabwe, illegal dumping of solid waste is reported to be affecting sewer systems due to blockages especially from plastic objects which do not degrade naturally.

Post published in: Analysis
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