Waste Management Systems Seeking Policy Direction
BY DRAXON MALOYA
The World Health Organization stressed the need for proper isolation and management of garbage after confirming that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants seeking tangible solutions such as renewable energy and sustainable transportation.
On the local scene the problem comes at a time when there is total failure of the highly billed National Clean-up Campaign being attributed to lack of ownership and clear guidelines on the implementation of the initiative; that has registered little strides despite its pomp during its take-off over two years ago.
Geofrey Gladson Gomani is the Managing Director for Blue Sky Waste Management Services who expressed the need for government and organization to provide capacity in support of those who have already been involved in the waste management and ease some challenges contributing to the irresponsible dumping of refuse.
Narrating his odeal, the 27 year old Machinjiri resident said he started collecting garbage and dump it somewhere within the village where there was a big whole, but authorities advised him that it was not health for the community, then explored the idea to have more clients to support covering for motor vehicle hiring and some expenses to take the refuse to recomended dumping sites.
“The Idea of waste management came into my mind in 2018, we had a ploblem in disposing kitchen waste at home, we used to send a guy to dump it by the river side, and then the village headman announced that if anyone else could be found will be penalised so I thought of how can l provide a solution to the ploblem not only for yourself but even for the whole neighborhood,” said Gomani.
Funds permit, Gomani who is still staying Financial Accounting at Pact College would like to convert plastic wastes into tiles, bricks, and biogas out of kitchen refuse which he quickly stated that needs training.
The renowned environmental expert, Charles Bakolo thinks government could have first educated its people on how issues to do with waste management should be executed as other citizens show little care about it.
“People think that waste management is only for the town councils there must be proper civic education to the citizenry on the need for them to participate in this exercise and it must be emphasized that the responsibility of taking care of the environment is for every citizen of the country”, observes Bakolo.
On the other hand, environmental activist, Mathews Malata argues the initiative, progressive as it is, lacks proper guidelines; adding there has been no collaboration between the district councils and Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change.
“We kicked off the waste management initiatives but without the national guidelines which leaving many participants in quandary because there was no clear direction are expected to do”, says Malata.
However, poor waste disposal remains a deep-rooted problem haunting most district and city councils across the country; a situation mostly blamed for inadequate financing towards waste management issues
According to the World Health Organization conference of 2018, 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants and will seek solutions, including: renewable energy, sustainable transport and waste management
President Lazarus Chakwera launched the national Cleanup Campaign initiative in 2020 and it was meant to be taking place every second Friday of each month aimed at instilling a culture of cleanliness among the public and promoting a positive environmental behaviour change in managing wastes.
