Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
SOLID waste management has emerged as one of the major challenges confronting almost all urban local authorities in Zimbabwe, with the responsibility for waste management and disposal lying squarely with them.
As the country grapples with rapid urbanisation, effective waste disposal strategies have become crucial for the maintenance of public health and environmental sustainability.
According to the Zimbabwe Integrated Waste Management Plan, the country generates an estimated 1, 65 million tonnes of waste annually. The waste is mainly 32 percent biodegradable material, 18 percent plastics, 25 percent paper, six percent textile, seven percent metal, two percent glass, one percent electronic waste and three percent other materials.
Approximately 90 percent of the waste generated is either compostable, recyclable, or reusable, leaving only 10 percent for landfilling.
Cities like Harare and Bulawayo have, for a long time, faced severe challenges in managing their municipal solid waste.
These challenges manifest in erratic refuse collection services, the proliferation of illegal dumpsites and environmental hazards such as uncontrolled fires at landfills.
The sheer volume of waste generated, coupled with limited resources for collection, transportation and proper disposal, has consistently strained the capacities of urban local authorities, leading to adverse impacts on public health and the environment.
Specifically, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has for a long time battled with the perennial smoke emissions at the Richmond landfill, popularly known as Ngozi Mine.
Fires frequently erupt at the site and the accompanying smoke has become a significant health hazard to residents of Cowdray Park, located just a few kilometres from the dumpsite.
Residents of Cowdray Park have consistently voiced their concerns about this smoke, claiming it poses a serious risk to their health, and for years, they have lobbied the local authority for permanent solutions.
The Richmond Landfill, commissioned in 1994, was originally designed with a 20-25-year lifespan.
However, it continues to operate beyond its intended period due to resource constraints that have delayed the development of alternative disposal sites.
Although the landfill is estimated to have another 10-15 years of use, it is alleged that “inadequate maintenance and equipment failures” have hindered proper waste management practices, including the regular compaction, confinement and covering of waste, exacerbating the environmental and health issues.
These deficiencies exacerbate the environmental and health issues, contributing directly to the frequent landfill fires.
This is because decomposing organic waste produces methane gas, which can spontaneously combust, particularly at high temperatures.
Highlighting the gravity of this persistent problem, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Albert Mavhunga recently toured the Richmond landfill.
He was accompanied by officials from the Bulawayo City Council, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), and the Bulawayo Provincial Civil Protection Unit.
His visit underscored the severity of the situation and followed mounting complaints from Cowdray Park residents, who have been significantly affected by the toxic smoke emanating from the site.
Speaking during the tour, EMA provincial manager Ms Sithembisiwe Ndlovu, was forthright in her assessment, attributing the frequent fires to poor landfill operations.
“From our inspections and observations, it is the poor management of the landfill that is causing these fires. We have noted that the required standards are not being met, which is why some of the fires are occurring,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu explained that the fires were releasing hazardous emissions, including carbon monoxide, into the atmosphere, posing serious risks to both human health and the environment.
“In terms of the emissions from the landfill, we have realised that when these fires occur, our air is being polluted.
“Hazardous emissions are being released due to the variety of materials dumped at the site. We have also observed that hazardous substances are being deposited at the landfill.
“When fires break out, these substances emit carbon monoxide, which is harmful to both our health and the environment. This is why residents are complaining — they are breathing in this polluted air,” she said.
She also noted that the smoke contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, making the landfill fires a contributor to climate change.
Deputy Minister Mavhunga also expressed the Government’s deep concern over the recurring fires and their health implications for nearby communities.
“The recurring fires at the Richmond landfill have escalated into a public health crisis, an environmental hazard, and a stark reminder of the pressing need for sustainable waste management solutions in our urban centres.
“After reviewing the situation and the aftermath of the fire at Richmond landfill, it is clear that the resulting smoke has impacted the health and well-being of residents in nearby suburbs such as Cowdray Park,” he said.
He noted that residents in areas like Cowdray Park have reported respiratory problems, while the constant pollution has disrupted daily life.
He said this should serve as a wake-up call for all urban councils, stressing the urgent need for sustainable, modern waste management systems.
To ensure this, he also announced that all 92 local authorities across the country will now be held accountable to a new set of Minimum Service Delivery Standards.
In response, BCC’s cleansing superintendent, Mr Nkanyiso Ndlovu, acknowledged that the landfill site is currently operating without essential machinery.
He said that for any site to function as a proper landfill, it must carry out daily waste confinement, compaction, and coverage.
“At a minimum, this requires a bulldozer, a landfill compactor and a front-end loader — all of which we currently lack.
“Our landfill plant is down, and we are also seeing a growing population of illegal settlers,” said Mr Ndlovu.
According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution from dump sites such as Ngozi Mine can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma.
Given these critical deficiencies and the significant environmental challenges faced by landfills like Richmond in Bulawayo, the widely acknowledged success of the Geo Pomona waste management model in Harare presents a compelling blueprint for improved waste management across Zimbabwe.
The Geo Pomona project in Harare is lauded for its integrated approach, which includes waste sorting, leachate treatment, and crucially, the establishment of a waste-to-energy facility.
This model is designed to process hundreds of tonnes of waste daily, converting it into energy that can be fed into the national grid, thereby addressing both waste disposal challenges and contributing to energy security.
Its implementation has reportedly transformed what was once a mismanaged dumpsite into a more organised facility, with efforts to clear illegal dumps and improve overall waste collection in the capital. This success highlights the potential for a shift from traditional, problematic landfilling to a more sustainable, resource-recovering system that mitigates health hazards and environmental pollution.
Given the proven effectiveness of the Geo Pomona waste management model, questions have naturally arisen about plans for its expansion to other provinces, specifically Bulawayo, to develop similar waste-to-energy recycling plants.
In response, Geo Pomona Waste Management’s chief executive officer and executive chairman, Dr Dilesh Nguwaya, confirmed that they have already engaged the City of Bulawayo and hope to explore opportunities for collaboration.
“We have engaged the City of Bulawayo and hope to explore opportunities for collaboration. Geo Pomona Waste Management remains open to expanding our model to other cities, including Bulawayo, to help address pressing waste management challenges,” said Dr Nguwaya.
BCC corporate communications manager, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, confirmed that the city will be negotiating with Geo Pomona to understand their offer, among other companies that have expressed interest in Waste-to-Energy projects.
She also stated that the landfill site is currently not emitting smoke, as the council has hired plants and equipment to address the issue.
“For a start, the landfill site is currently not emitting smoke, the council hired plant and equipment for that. On Geo Pomona, they will be negotiated with, to hear what they offer among other companies that have expressed interest in Waste-to-Energy projects,” she said.
EMA spokesperson Ms Amkela Sidange, while acknowledging that the increase in waste generation has not been met with a matching increase in service delivery in terms of waste collection and other sustainable waste management practices by local authorities in Zimbabwe, suggested the Geo Pomona Waste Management project in Harare as an alternative waste management strategy.
“The situation has been compounded by the fact that urban local authorities continue to use a traditional linear model in solid waste management systems that focuses on waste generation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal of waste,” said Ms Sidange.
“However, they are experiencing major problems at each of these stages as unsustainably high volumes of waste are generated, such that the authorities fail to cope with the other four stages, especially with regard to collection and transportation.”
