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Herald Reporter
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has urged people countrywide to observe the national clean-up by cleaning their immediate environments today.
The National Environment Cleaning Day exercise, which is held on the first Friday of every month from 8am to 10am, is aimed at ensuring a clean, safe and healthy environment.
In a statement yesterday, EMA spokesperson Ms Joyce Chapungu said the national clean-up programme, as declared by President Mnangagwa, remained key in creating a clean, safe and healthy environment, which is crucial for the attainment of sustainable development goals.
“We would like to implore all citizens of Zimbabwe to participate in the sound management of waste by cleaning their immediate environs, including the front and backyards of their properties, areas surrounding their perimeter walls and fences, sanitary lanes, road servitudes and market places within their locality,” she said.
“It is paramount that we adhere to the principles of sustainable economic models such as ‘the circular economy’ which Zimbabwe is moving towards. A circular economy is a model in which maximum value is extracted from natural resources in the sense that, once they enter the value chain they are not quickly disposed of, instead they are reused, recovered, re-manufactured and recycled, hence promoting resource efficiency.
“This model replaces the traditional linear economy in which materials are derived from natural resources, used for manufacturing products and disposed of as end-of-life products.”
Ms Chapungu said the key enabler for a circular economy was the separation of waste at source.
“At any given premise, different waste streams are produced, and each one has a unique way of disposal,” she said. “Therefore, each stream should be kept in separate bins prior to disposal to enable the recyclables such as paper cardboard, glass, plastic, metals and electronic waste to be disposed of in a sustainable manner.
“Similarly, all biodegradable waste, which is waste that rots, which is comprised of fruit and vegetable peels, as well as lawn and hedge cuttings, should be composted and the product can be used as organic fertiliser/manure for vegetable gardens, flowerbeds, rockeries, orchards or sold to those that can utilise it.”
Ms Chapungu said the aim was for waste to be used again to minimise the amount of waste destined for the landfill.
“Consequently, the lifespan of the landfills will be extended and there will be improved efficiency in the way in which we manage our waste as a nation as there will be little waste for conventional disposal,” she said.
“A healthy citizenry depends on a clean environment. Play your part to promote a healthy Zimbabwe by joining hands in cleaning our environment.”
Online Reporter