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Business Reporter
Local dairy processing companies have signed a pact that will see them partner to recycle carton packages.
The pact includes Dairibord, Kefalos, Prodairy, and Dendairy, with support from the Dairy Processors Association of Zimbabwe.
The collaborative effort, partnered with Tetra Pak, aims to recycle up to 1,000 tonnes of carton waste per year at its peak capacity. Specific details regarding the project’s implementation haven’t been disclosed yet.
Signatories to the agreement believe this initiative presents a sustainable solution for waste management.
The project was lauded by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) as the first of its kind in Zimbabwe. A representative for EMA, Amkela Sidange, speaking on behalf of Director General Aaron Chigona, stated: “I would like to thank dairy manufacturers for realising the need for a sustainable way of managing waste, which is in line with our environmental rights of a clean, safe and healthy environment as enshrined under Section 73 of the Zimbabwe Constitution.”
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce also commended the project, noting its alignment with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). Chief Director Industry, Ms Florence Makombe, said: “We are happy that through recycling, employment creation is there and it brings income.”
Representatives from Tetra Pak, the project partner, emphasized a goal of recycling at least 40 percent of carton packaging waste. They stressed the importance of collaboration to achieve a circular economy and eliminate packaging waste from streets and landfills. Tetra Pak Managing Director, Southern Africa, Mr Klaus Plenge, said: “This is the starting point, now is the time we need to work together and boost the circular economy. We don’t want packages in the streets, we don’t want packages in a landfill, we want to collect and recycle and turn it into something else.”
A representative for the Dairy Processors Association of Zimbabwe, Themba Mutsvairo, highlighted the initiative’s contribution to environmental sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He said: “The initiative was long overdue as the world is fighting environmental sustainability that will contribute towards achieving sustainable development goals.
“If we collect and recycle, it can help to conserve water and energy which are both precious resources in Zimbabwe. It can also create jobs and boost the economy which also can help to alleviate poverty. Finally it improves the health of the population by reducing the amount of toxic waste in the environment. We are proud to be supporting the initiative to conserve our natural resources.”
The project was also praised for fostering public-private sector collaboration. Commentators noted the potential for this initiative to create new green jobs, reduce waste, and lessen environmental impact.
Ms Chiyedza Heri of Ubuntu Alliance Climate Finance commented: “With the recycling and upcycling we are now tapping into giving life to cartons, and entering into the green infrastructure development space, creating more jobs and reducing our waste and also having less of an environmental impact.
“So I think this is exciting seeing the policies that we have had taking a step further and the private sector working with the government and EMA to facilitate the implementation.” –Bloomberg
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