Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ONE think tank once noted that the greatest achievement of technology is not how it changes life, but how it improves it.
A paradigm shift in global waste management has transformed the way the world handles waste, moving from linear to circular models, and it is revolutionizing lives.
This achievement of technology is a testament to its power to improve, rather than just change, human existence.
Rapid urbanisation, population growth, and changing consumption patterns have turned waste management into a pressing global concern – with the per capita waste generation skyrocketing, driven by the surge in post-consumption waste, largely attributed to packaging.
Industrialisation and globalisation have led to a proliferation of packaged products, including metal cans, plastic and glass bottles, and composite materials combining paper, aluminium, and plastic.
These waste streams pose significant environmental and health risks, but the circular waste management model offers a beacon of hope.
By designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems, this approach promises a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
As the world grapples with the challenges of waste management, this technological turnaround serves as a powerful reminder of innovation’s potential to improve human lives. Post-consumption waste includes cardboard boxes used for transporting goods and plastic bottles containing bottled water. These materials are not consumed by the end-user, who is typically only interested in the product inside, leaving the packaging as unwanted waste.
The disposal of this waste varies, with some individuals littering or dumping it in streets, while others use designated waste bins for collection by municipal authorities.
However, the traditional linear approach to waste management – generation, collection, and dumping – merely transfers the problem from one location to another without addressing the root issue.
This linear model, once implemented in developed countries, has been recognised as flawed, as it fails to tackle the problem of post-consumption materials that do not decompose or pollute the environment upon decomposition.
In contrast, global waste management systems are shifting towards a circular approach, aiming to create a closed-loop value chain.
Zimbabwe has joined the African Circular Economy Alliance, endorsing the principle of circular waste management. But what does this entail?
In a circular system, waste is designed out, and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, minimising pollution and waste generation. This approach seeks to transform waste into a valuable resource, rather than a persistent problem.
How does the circularity in waste management come into play?
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) principal environmental education and publicity officer, Mr Liberty Mugadza had this to say: “We are now appreciating that waste or post consumption material or products or assets are viewed as inputs into the next process. Bottles that have been used to contain or to carry edible oils, drinks or water can be the input for the next product in the form of recycling, in the form of waste-to -energy, so that we do not have material accumulating in one place.
“According to the laws of science, material or matter is not generated, but transformed from one form to the other, one place to the other. So if we believe that when we do not have material stagnating in one form, we can deal with the problem of waste. That is the principle of circularity in waste management. In other words, that is where the globe is going in terms of managing waste.”
The other critical component in circularity – over and above minimisation – is waste separation and source. To be able to process waste, plastics must be treated in its rightful form because it comes in seven forms, including LD, PET, LDPE, PVC and others.
For example, plastics come in different forms such as PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), used for food and beverage bottles, jars, and some types of clothing fibers, with high strength and widely recycled in curbside programmes. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), which is more rigid plastic than LDPE, used for milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent containers, and toys – is very safe and commonly recycled, while PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) that is used in pipes, tiles, and some non-food packaging – should not come in contact with food items.
LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene), known for its flexibility and toughness, is commonly used as plastic bags (grocery, dry cleaning), cling wrap, squeeze bottles, and tubing.
PP (Polypropylene), a versatile plastic used for items like yogurt pots, bottle caps, plastic chairs, and some food containers, is often described as a healthy and durable plastic. There is also PS (Polystyrene), often known by the brand name Styrofoam (in its expanded foam form), used for disposable cups, plates, egg cartons, and takeaway food containers.
A specific category encompasses various plastic types, including polycarbonates (PC) used in computer components and robust products, as well as multi-layer products combining different plastics. These materials require separate processing, making segregation crucial for efficient waste management.
Separation is best done at source, as it streamlines the process. While segregation can occur at any point, doing so later incurs additional costs, necessitating specialised equipment or personnel to sort the waste, thereby increasing expenses.
“Coming to small or growing local authorities like Mutare and others, they somehow still can or seem to manage waste collection and dumping. Then those that want to do processing can do it at the dumpsite. But, the cost of doing eventually will outweigh the local authorities to continue because it also faces the emerging challenge of rapid urbanization, more people are coming to urban communities, population is increasing hence it is important that Mutare quickly adopts integrated circular waste management. They need to look at available options including implementing waste segregation at source, including encouraging households to separate waste. That means at least having plastics on their own or dry matter on its own container, separate from food, which is managed through composting for manure,” said Mr Mugadza.
There is a growing demand for organic products, yet organic waste, a valuable resource for producing organic fertiliser, is being wasted. In light of this, it is essential that local authorities take the lead in promoting efficient waste management practices.
As recipients of waste management fees from residents, local authorities are well-positioned to spearhead initiatives that maximise benefits. By encouraging households to separate waste, authorities can facilitate the collection of uncontaminated recyclables, reducing their own burden and enabling recycling operators to collect valuable materials directly from residential areas.
Options like waste to energy also have the have their dynamics, they have their pros and cons.
Environmental activist, Mr Teedzai Mapungwana highlighted concerns surrounding waste-to-energy initiatives.
“Waste-to-energy projects utilise existing waste at dumpsites, but facilities often require a consistent feedstock. However, once the accumulated waste is depleted, new waste accumulation may be slower, potentially rendering equipment obsolete,” he said, recommending reprocessing existing waste at dumpsites, involving separation, cleaning, and recovery of recyclables, with organic materials converted into compost or manure.
He emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships and resident engagement in sustainable waste management.
“Therefore, encouraging recycling brings private players into action which also brings in additional resources in terms of financing. That reduces the burden for local authorities. Forming Public Private Partnerships are all options that can be pursued to make sure that waste is managed in a sustainable manner but of importance is the role played by those who generate the waste – the residents – they must be informed,” he said.
