FBC drives eco-friendly waste initiative

ONE of Hwange Local Board (HLB)’s infrastructural development partners, FBC Building Society, is set to construct Hwange urban’s first biodigester at an estimated cost of over US$200 000.

The development is expected to significantly enhance solid waste management while promoting an eco-friendly environment.

HLB corporate communications officer Mr Dumisani Nsingo confirmed that a site for the construction of the biodigester has already been identified.

“The Department of Physical Planning and Land Management carried out a survey to determine a suitable location for the biodigester. The area has been pegged and beacons are now in place. We expect construction work to commence in the first quarter of 2026,” he said.

He explained that the biodigester would play a critical role in sustainable waste management by converting organic waste into useful resources.

The system will generate biogas for energy use, including cooking and electricity, while producing nutrient-rich fertiliser.

“It will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut waste management costs and eliminate the need for frequent sludge removal. Council officials recently undertook a familiarisation tour in Harare to gain insight into the technology,” he added.

Mr Nsingo said some of the officials went on a look-and-learn visit to appreciate how biodigesters operate, and the feedback they received left them confident that the system will work wonders for Hwange.

The biodigester is expected to serve about 200 households out of the 764 residential stands currently being serviced by FBC Building Society, with the remainder connected to the council’s conventional sewer reticulation system.

“Biodigesters are becoming increasingly important in residential waste management because they provide a decentralised, closed-loop system that converts organic waste such as food scraps and human excreta into renewable energy and fertiliser,” he said.

“By processing waste on site, these systems significantly reduce the volume of refuse sent to landfills, minimise odours and pests, as well as lower the environmental footprint of households.”

In 2018, HLB sold 39.1948 hectares of land to FBC Building Society for the development of 764 houses and a residential flat. Under a revised arrangement, the financial institution will now focus on servicing the land rather than directly constructing houses.

The area has been planned to accommodate residential stands, a school, a commercial mall, a small to medium enterprise (SME) industrial site, a church, two crèches and open recreational spaces.