Sustainable Waste Management 

The waste generated through our day-to-day living contributes to the pollution we are facing in Zimbabwe. To reduce this, we all need to be mindful of waste management. Waste management refers to the practice of collecting, transporting, processing, or disposing of, managing, and monitoring various waste materials. Waste management alone is not enough to sustain and protect our environment. EMA promotes and equips organizations and the general public to practice sustainable waste management.

Sustainable waste management refers to the collection, transportation, valorization, and disposal of various types of waste, in a manner that does not jeopardize the environment, human health, or future generations.

The goal of sustainable waste management is to reduce the number of natural resources we are consuming and reuse our resources as much as possible. The Local Authorities in Zimbabwe still use the traditional closed solid waste management system that involves stages of generation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal of waste. However, they are experiencing major problems at each of the stages as unsustainably high volumes of waste are generated resulting in the local authorities failing to keep up with the rise in waste. Measures have been put in place by the government to promote sustainable waste management including the ISWMP ( Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan) The system is anchored on waste reduction, waste separation at source, compositing of biodegradables, recycling as well as the establishment of energy plants. 

In 2011, we carried out a study in partnership with the Institute of Environmental Studies which revealed that an estimated 90% of total waste can be managed through recycling, composting, and related interventions. This is why it is important for the general public to be fully involved in sustainable waste management in Zimbabwe.