Entrepreneurs’role in environment management

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They have a varied impact on the environment and they can also be affected by bad climatic conditions such as floods and droughts.
It is therefore important that entrepreneurs get to understand the provisions of the environmental management law and what it expects of them. The major problem is environmental degradation. Rivers, dams and groundwater reserves are polluted.

The air that we breathe is also polluted. Poor waste management systems practised by most entrepreneurs are contributing to severe environmental deterioration countrywide.
Entrepreneurs are urged to develop and implement environmental management plans and policies for their organisations. These guide them in management and protection of the environment as they drive towards embracing best practices and self-regulation in a bid to go green.

Entrepreneurs should be guided by the following environmental principles as they carry out their activities:
Development must be sustainable; that is socially acceptable, economically viable and environmentally friendly.

They should prevent or minimise negative impacts of their activities on the environment and further safeguard people’s environmental rights.

Any person including an entrepreneur who causes pollution or environmental degradation shall meet the cost of remedying such pollution or environmental degradation and any resultant adverse health effects.

Waste management should be maintained from point of inception to final disposal to prevent and minimise pollution.

All entrepreneurs shall meet the cost of preventing, controlling or minimising further pollution, environmental damage or adverse health effects which their operations and actions have caused.
What do environmental quality standards say?
Water Pollution
Every entrepreneur is required by the Environmental Management Act (CAP 20:27) to observe the following measures in an attempt to prevent water pollution.

Don’ts
Do not discharge or apply any poison or toxic, noxious or obstructing matter, radioactive waste or other pollutants into the aquatic environment. Do not permit any person to dump or discharge such matter into aquatic environment in contradiction to the prescribed water pollution control standards.

Do’s

Discharge any effluent pollutants originating from the trade or industrial undertaking only into existing sewage system and a license to discharge should be obtained from the local authority operating or supervising the sewerage system.

Install appropriate treatment plants to treat the effluent before discharging them into the environment. This has to be done prior to being granted a licence to discharge effluent into the environment. Minimising effluent pollutants through cleaner production mechanisms.

Register all your effluent discharge points with EMA. Effluent and Solid Waste Disposal Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 6 of 2007 governs water pollution issues in the country.

Air Pollution
Any industrialist, company, developer and person is not allowed to emit any substances which cause substantial air pollution in contradiction of emission standards established under the EMA. Industrialists are encouraged to practise cleaner production mechanisms that reduce pollution.
Both stationary sources of pollution such as stacks and chimneys as well as mobile source in the form of vehicle exhaust emissions must be closely monitored. All stationary emission points must be registered with EMA and in all cases pollution abatement measures must be in place. Atmospheric Pollution Control Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 72 of 2009 governs air pollution issues in the country.
Noise Pollution
It is prohibited to emit noise in excess of the noise emission prescribed standards. Currently, World Health Organisation thresholds/standards must be adhered to.

Waste Management
It is prohibited to discharge or dispose of any waste, whether generated within or outside Zimbabwe, in such a manner as to cause pollution to the environment or ill health to any person. All entrepreneurs must embrace the cradle to the grave principle in order to manage various types of waste that is generated by the diverse entrepreneurial operations. Effluent and Solid Waste Disposal

Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 6 of 2007 governs waste management issues in the country.
Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 10 of 2007 governs hazardous waste management issues in the country.

Plastics Usage
The manufacture for use within Zimbabwe, the importation and commercial distribution of plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness of less than 30 micrometres is prohibited. All entrepreneurs must therefore be on the look-out for the plastics that they are using to avoid polluting our environment with plastic.

Environmental Impact Assessment
The first schedule of the Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27), stipulates activities which requires an EIA before commencement. These include mining and quarrying, forestry, agriculture, transport, energy, water, urban infrastructure, tourism and waste management, among others.
If a project is prescribed in terms of the Act, the developer of that project is required to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment. If you knowingly implement a project in contravention of EIA requirements, you shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Level 14 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.