UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF TREES TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

slashing the backyard garden and the surround- is the month-end of ing, the temptation to burn February, the grass residues and shop- is always high. pers Thus, are busy it may buying not

HUMAN

be far from various the truth merchandise that we

life, econ(not all, for in home one way use. or Catherine the other,

omy, name) is and among culthe have her been real involved in burn-

ture She depend is not a on usual a ing shoppers. waste in our back yards.

healthy, this fancy functionsuper- This, client in simple in terms, is re- ing market, environment. but she A is healthy here to- ferred to as open air burning. environment day after she however got a raise largeon

Scientifically, open air

ly depends her salary. on trees, which burning is defined as an en-

have several functions in the vironmentally unacceptable

ecosystem. At the till, she hands the practice of setting on fire of a ca- wide They shier range not the of money. only different give As oxygen, the types trans- of store waste action carbon, or is unwanted in stabilise the process, products the soil the and that cashier give includes life asks and dump her habitat whether fires, to the pit she world’s and would barrel wildlife, require burning, but a plastic also fires carrier proon vide plain bag. materials soil She or answers fields for tools, and with forests. shelter a defi- and Why nite ultimately, is YES! this Unknown food unacceptable? for to both her is human Because that beings a it plastic pollutes and carrier wildlife. the bag air. But is not we dished will come out for back free to anymore; this and it Environmental comes at a minimal Value cost. more negative effects later.

Trees According This contribute particular to a to study the shop envicon- is ronment ducted charging in by 2006 providing K1 on for waste the oxygen, carrier gen- improving eration bag. As and air she disposal quality, leaves, with climate she sup- scru- enhancement, port tinizes from her the till conserving United receipt Nations only wato ter, Development find preserving that a one soil kwacha Programme and is supgone. porting (UNDP), She wildlife. returns the average to inquire waste and generation It gets is basic the science explanation rate per that capita during of some is the 0.67kg/per law process by government. person/day of photosynthesis, for Hearing the trees urban the take population. word in carbon government, The dioxide study she and further reluctantly produce revealed the leaves, that oxygen wondering much we of breathe. the what domestic this Aside law waste this is all important about. is gener- function, ated The from above trees residential situation also filter areas. typical- air It and is worth ly absorb describes noting other what however, pollutants most that shop- such pers as experienced carbon monoxide, at the begin-

ning of the implementation less than 10% of residential

of the Extended Producer areas in the country on aver-

Responsibility (EPR) age, are serviced with regard to

Regulations, Statutory waste management. And this seems Instrument to be the No. foundation 65 of 2018 of the (“the problem EPR of open Regulations”), burning,

which only banned in Zambia the but use, glob- man- sulfur not dioxide and nitrogen dially. ufacture, trading, retail, im- oxide. portation and commercial

distribution Trees remove of carbon plastic carrier from the bags air, and getting plastic absorbed flat bags and that

many parts of the world, stored are below as cellulose 30 microns in in their thick- open burning is practised be- trunks, ness. branches and leaves. cause it is the cheapest, easiest This But process how is and known why as are carsu- and most sanitary means of bon permarkets sequestration. charging for plas- volume reduction and disposal of tic In combustible view carrier of the bags? materials. fact This that article This carbon is therefore especially dioxide attempts is true the main for to people greenanswer house with the charge no gas access responsible question. to organized for global waste warming, handling any and destruction who have of been EPR trees/forests, left as to a principle their coupled own devices with increased for materials EPR is industrial defined disposal. as activiactions ties—burning that Further, extend this a person’s of is rampant fossil financial fuels in to areas or power physical of low industry, responsibility incomes, transport, poor for a heating waste product attitudes etc., to has the a and post-consum- direct culture, relationship and er low stage, levels to high and of includes; concentration literacy. This, waste levels is minimization unfortunately of carbon in the programmes; the case atmofor sphere, Zambia, financial thereby especially contributions causing in urban global to any warming. areas, fund where, established It is as for earlier this to alluded promote reason that to, the waste planting minimisation, management trees, along is recovery, still with a cutting challenge. reuse industrial or recycling carbon of emiswaste; sions, awareness are considered programmes as to key in- steps form in the the public climate of the change impacts mitigation of waste of discourse. emanating open burning from are the mainly product In terms the on resultant of human enhancing air health pollu- cliand mate tion the from parameters, environment; open burning trees and which play any a role leads other in to moderating measures discomfort to or the reduce disturb- effects the of ing potential the normal sun, impacts life, rain endangering and of the wind. prod- Leaves the uct health on not human and only safety health absorb of people and and the filter environment. the sun’s radiant energy

In simple terms, EPR and the environment. Air pol-

Regulations require a person lution is defined as a condition

or persons whose activities of the ambient air arising from

generate waste with potential the presence or introduction of one to or pollute more pollutants the environment in the air to that employ endangers measures the essential health, safety to minimise or welfare waste of humans through or thereby keeping reclamation, things reuse cool that treatment, interferes with the normal in or summer, recycling. they It is also based preserve on the enjoyment of life or property, warmth globally during recognised harsh ‘Polluter winter endangering animal or plant and pays’ windy principle, seasons. that those who life. produce Several products studies have that proven According to the 2018 World pollute that should one bear mature the costs tree can of man- proHealth Organisation (WHO) duce aging the and/or same preventing cooling effect dam- as report, around seven million 10 age room-sized to human air health conditioners. and the people die every year from ex- Through environment. their moderation of posure to fine particles in pol- luted the Aside local air climate, that the lead ban trees to on diseases can plastics also such save that up as are to stroke, 10% below of heart 30 local disease, microns energy lung consumption. in cancer, thickness, chronic other obstruc- pack- tive aging Further, pulmonary materials the role diseases and of trees prod- and in respiratory shielding ucts covered us infections from under the the downfall includ- EPR ing of Regulations rain pneumonia. and hailstorms include; Cartons, is well documented. Non-returnable Open burning As also Glass highlighted affects and the and Plastic climate argued Bottles, through by environmental Plastic the release Carrier of experts and Greenhouse Flat against Bags, Gases Beverage deforestation (GHGs) Cans, such and Waste forest as Oils Carbon degradation, and Lubricant Dioxide, trees Oxides have Containers, a water of Sulphur retention Used and Lead and Oxides Acid soil of preservation Batteries, Nitrogen. Pesticides functions. They and absorb Chemicals Interestingly, and Containers store GHGs rainwater, are the and main thereby Expired cause reducing Chemicals. of global runoff warming, Others and leading sediment are; Used to climate deposit Tyres, change. after near storms. end And of the This life effects or helps end of of the life climate ground Electrical change water and are supply Electronic well recharge documented Equipment. system especial- as well ly as in preventing As terms stated of above, the erratic transport the rainfall, “ban” of droughts chemicals does not and apply into floods to streams all as kinds well and as of reduced prevents plastic energy bags flooding. and generation flat bags, due but to only reduced those water with a levels thickness in the of case Commercial less of than hydro-power 30 Value microns. on which These are Trees mainly have ‘Single Use supported Plastic Bags. This requirement is

Zambia hugely relies for elec- in line with the National tricity.

Standard ZS 719 by the

As a key ingredient in the Zambia Bureau of Standards. normal functioning of the economy, reduced energy The Plastic charge has its own effects on the so- cio-economic Regulation development 10 of EPR pro- of and continue to sustain who at any life the vides country. that a person throughout premises makes human plastic existence. carrier

Other direct effects of open- They bags or have flat a bags wide available variety to of air burning include the de- economic, customers as practical a means and of comcar- struction of ecosystem diver- mercial rying goods value. purchased, Wood was or the to sity and habitat as insects and very be purchased, first fuel, from and is the still person used other animals are wiped out. for shall cooking provide and an heating by

Further, the low alternative tempera- about shopping half bag, of the and world’s that poputhe ture burning and smoldering lation. person Other reserves uses the include right timto conditions typical of open burning ber require for construction, a promote customer the to furniture, pay forma- a fee tion tools, for the of provision many sporting toxic of an equipment, and alterna- po- tentially paper tive shopping and harmful thousands bag. chemicals. of other These household This chemical means goods. that compounds alternative may shopping In form economic during bags maybe terms, open burning provid- it is esregardless timated ed for free that of or at the some a fee. composition 1.3 An billion alter- of people native the material shopping around being the bag burnt. is world defined depend as The a carrier on compounds forests bag for that their produced is made livelifrom hood—that open environmentally burning is 20% of can the friendly trav- globel al materials long population. distances designed This and to be deposit includes used on income over soil, a period plants, from of the approximately and sale in of water, trees thereby and one year. tree-related polluting products. a key life It needed. also As includes the Additionally, public the may value the already of fruit, re- maining fodder, have noticed, medicines, ash in the some burn and super- other pile contains direct markets or pollutants, have indirect such products. alternative which can spread bags For alongside into Zambia, the soil the the and compliant water. forestry sector plastic Animals is carrier believed and bags fish to that contribingest are the ute above pollutants significantly 30 microns and to household in accumu- thick- late incomes ness, them which for in forest are their recyclable. dependent tissues, while communities, Therefore, plants the can particularly charge absorb is them pro- in through rural vided areas. for their in Nationally, the leaf law. surfaces. It howevis not When er, illegal; according this neither contaminated to is the it Integrated meant food to Land exploit Use consumers. Assessment It is (ILUA) rath- er meant to discourage the open air burning of waste from industrial, commercial opera- tions or domestic or commu- nity activities except with the written consent of the Agency.”

Further, contravening the above stated provision is an offence as stated in Regulation

down run-off and improve per74: colation during rainfall, add to “A person who – the beauty of our surrounding, a) Conducts open air abate pollution, enhance huburning of waste or any other

man health, education, reduce material or substance with-

mental stress and manage efout the written consent of the is fects a boost of droughts for the recyclable and flooding Agency; commits an offence industry. and addresses climate change,” and is liable, upon conviction, to It he a should says. fine be not noted exceeding that this two is hundred not Dr. the Wanchinga only thousand firm dealing adds penalty in that recycling units the or Ministry to business. imprisonment is A number implementfor a of period ing plastic the not recycling exceeding National firms two Policy have years on been or Environment to set both”. up and operational. which was de

ZEMA signed Let us is as all therefore an therefore, umbrella positive refrain framethat from work the open with implementation air a burning. comprehensive It of is the retrogressive focus EPR on Regulations protecting and destructive will the re- envisult to ronment the in minimisation environment. and promoting of Make waste susa and decision tainable promote today utilization a to cleaner subscribe of and natural to healthier waste resources, collectors Zambia. adding The in that your Agency the area. polencourages ZEMA icy spells also out individuals encourages a working to space the switch public for everyone to to alternative segregate in order bags waste to and achieve and reduce sell environmental recyclable the use of material plastic sustainability. carri- to re- er cycling bags! We companies The all have ultimate a constitutional for goal income. as stated, and Like moral is Water, to minimise mandate Air is to waste life. protect So through stop the contaminating environment; treatment, reclama- it! let’s get intion volved! and reuse. is eaten, the pollutants are passed on to humans, thus affecting human health. It is also worth noting that smoke and particulates from open burning sources can trigger respiratory health problems, particularly among children,

project statistics, the forestthe elderly, and people with ry sector contributes 5.5% to Asthma or other respiratory the Gross Domestic Product diseases, and those with chron- (GDP). ic heart or lung disease. Way Forward

With a use deforestation of plastic car- rate Considering all these numer- rier ous of bags negative between and effects encourage 250,000 of open reuse air and and burning, 300,000 recycling. it is hectares by With law illegal this, per the and year, EPR a Zambia chargeable Regulations cannot offence afford therefore to to prac- ignore present tice the open importance economic burning in of benefits Zambia. planting among The trees, Zambia while them at a Environmental reduction the same time of waste Management promoting disposal alternative Agency costs, (ZEMA), job sources cre- ation a of statutory energy through and body livelihood establishment established for the of by majority an recycling Act of of people industries Parliament, involved and the in conservation Environmental destructive practices of Management natural fueling re- sources. Act deforestation. No. 12 of 2011 (EMA), regulates For According instance, the environment to Solid Hon. Tech by Dr. Systems—a enforcing Dennis Wanchinga, recycling measures compa- Minister aimed ny at of based controlling Water in Kabwe, and Development, epitomiz- prevent- es ing Sanitation the pollution recycling and as business Environmental such as case. open The air Protection, burning. company there Specifically, turns is plastic need Part to waste III keep on up into Waste the momentum desks, Management, benches, so that ropes, Regulation sound woven environmental bags, 11 manhole of managethe covers Environmental ment and can other be ensured products. Management while at (Licensing) the Company same time, Proprietor promote Regulations the and use Managing Statutory of trees in Instrument abating Director, pollution. number Phillip Zulu, 112 “Trees of a 2013 recipient are prohibits a very of the important open Kabwe air The The author author is is Principal Principal

Chamber burning asset to and the of states Commerce health that: of the and naInformation Information and and

Industry tion “A person and Entrepreneur its shall people. not They conduct of the clean Communications Communications Officer at

Year our air Award and ground 2017, says water, he slow is at ZEMA; fphiri@zema.org.zm fphiri@zema.org.

encouraged by the EPR as it zm