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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
GOVERNMENT is committed to ensuring that the waste recycling sector is supported and enhanced for an improved recycling capacity which is key for sustainable economic development, Environment, Climate, Tourism Hospitality Industry Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.
In a statement to commemorate Africa Environment Day, Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said recycling of waste is a key component in scaling up and replication of the circular economy models.
Commemorated under the theme, “Growing the recycling industry for a sustainable economy by 2030”, the day embraces the key contribution of the recycling industry and the growth it has exhibited as the nation forges towards embracing the circular economy.
Africa Environment Day is celebrated annually on March 3 and was established by the Organisation of African Unity in 2002 (now African Union) as a way of raising awareness of the pressing environmental challenges facing the continent.
Since 2012, Africa Environment Day has been celebrated in conjunction with Wangari Maathai Day, in order to pay tribute to the late Nobel Laureate’s green legacy.
Minister Ndlovu said this year’s theme dovetails with the reduction of land pollution by implementing sustainable waste management strategies such as waste separation at source, material recovery and recycling.
He said his ministry had intensified efforts to revamp the sector. “Zimbabwe’s integrated solid waste management plan indicates that the nation produces an estimated 1,65 million tons of waste per annum. Of the volume of waste produced, 90 percent can either be reused, recycled or composted, hence there is a need to explore the best options in terms of disposal as we sustain our shift from the linear to the circular economy,” said Minister Ndlovu.
Minister Ndlovu said it is worrying to note that Zimbabwe recycles only 10 percent of its waste hence the need to support and improve the capacity of the sector as the country slowly migrates from the linear to the circular economy.
“The linear economy is based on extraction, consumption and disposal, which apparently has resulted in accumulation of numerous waste streams including hazardous and electronic waste, unsustainable energy consumption and high chemical usage which then destroys our ecosystems. It is therefore imperative that as Government, we prioritise the industry for increased capacity,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu said his ministry has already established 150 waste transfer stations across the country.
“These can be used by the members of the public to dispose of their separated recyclable material. I urge all citizens to take advantage of this facility and utilise them so as to create a clean and healthy environment,” he said.
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