Bulawayo to name and shame companies that litter

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) is crafting a solid waste management by-law which, among other things, makes it a requirement for companies in the production value chain to extend responsibility of the disposal of their products while introducing a name and shame register for litter bugs.

The city’s Bulawayo Solid Waste Management by-laws 2023 will make it compulsory for organisations and individuals to clean within five metres of their premises.

The local authority on Friday held a stakeholder meeting to get stakeholder views on the proposed law which seeks to replace a law that was introduced in the 1970s and is no longer applicable to today’s environment.

BCC cleansing superintendent Mr Nkanyiso Ndlovu presented the proposed by-law to the city’s stakeholders at a meeting held at Tower Block.

“We are currently reviewing this by-law on solid waste management. The last one was made in 1971 and due to changes, the city saw fit that we revise this by-law,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said they are reviewing the proposed by-law which includes the provision of extended producer responsibility where every producer, importer, retailer and trader including anyone dealing with problematic materials such as diapers would be required to play a role in managing this waste.

“This will be something which is new and will be ushered in by the new by-law. The new law will ensure that institutions and individuals within Bulawayo will clean their premises within a 5-metre radius,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said the by-law will empower the council to draft a public register for litter bugs.

“We are also bringing an aspect of naming and shaming. If anyone is caught littering or dumping, we will be able to publicise their names so that the community can correct them in a lovely manner,” he said.

“So, it will be a kind of a register to say every month or after a regular period we will be saying these are the people who we caught as we drive to ensure Bulawayo regains the status of a clean city.”

Mr Ndlovu said the new by-laws will also provide whistle blowing mechanisms to expose those involved in littering.

He said once adopted, there will be an increase in fines for those involved in littering ranging from Level 1-3 which is between US$5 and US$30.

Mr Ndlovu said all the waste in the city remains the city’s property.

The clause sparked debate as stakeholders said the law makes it difficult for those involved in recycling of litter to engage waste pickers as some of them get arrested in the process.

Mr Ndlovu said regulating those involved in recycling should be regulated as it will bring sanity to the sector.

“In the by-law there was no clear provision for waste pickers, but from the consultations that we have had, there is a consideration that we register the waste pickers. We must regulate their activities,” he said.

“If they are registered, they will be known and we will make sure that their operations are viable and are environmentally-friendly. It will not bring any negative issues to what we are doing.”

Mr Ndlovu said the council has also observed that sporting, entertainment, cultural or religious events were also contributing to littering in the city.

He said the waste management plan must include costing information, and the organiser, management or owner will be required to pay a refundable deposit as determined by the council.

“The cost for the collection, clean-up, recycling and disposal of the waste shall be payable by the event organiser and may be recovered from the deposit paid or charged to any council billing account held by the organiser or recovered from any funds or bank account held on behalf of the organiser,” said Mr Ndlovu. — @nqotshili