Promote recycling, industrialists urged
INDUSTRIALISTS should produce packaging material that are durable and easy to recycle to reduce the indiscriminate disposal of waste, Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Retired Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri has said.
Speaking during a clean-up campaign at Landas Business Centre in Marondera District last week, Rtd BrigGen Mutinhiri said it was time every distributor of packaging or any other material to have a distribution and recovery plan to promote recycling.
“It is called extended producer responsibility when manufacturers follow their material from cradle to the grave.
“Should we reduce material that could be waste, reuse the material that is still in good state and recycle all that material that cannot be composted, then the local authority can cope with the little waste available for land-filling,” said Rtd Brig-Gen Mutinhiri.
“It is also every citizen’s responsibility to adopt strategies enshrined in the integrated waste management plan. The strategy has three basic Rs, which are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” he said.
He also urged public transporters to ensure that there are litter bins in their vehicles.
“You should also advise passengers before and during the trip not to throw MANYAME Rural District Council (RDC) has completed pegging stands and issued 7 085 offer letters to prospective stand owners, an official has said.
The local authority is in the process of urbanising the area and over 8 000 stands have been identified.
In total, the two phases — Murisa 1 and 2 — have 5 381 residential stands, 1 674 medium, 680 low density, 74 industrial , 99 institutional and 165 commercial stands.
Manyame RDC chief executive Mrs Farirai Guta said last week they now intended to service the stands.
“We have two phases created after the audit report and these are Murisa 1 and 2,” said Mrs Guta.
“The layout plan is out and we also did pegging of stands in these two phases. In terms of issuance of offer letters, we issued 7 085 out of the total of 8 584.”
Mrs Guta said there was need to remove some people who did not follow the development plan to ensure that servicing of the stands started.
“There are also some people staying on areas marked for cemeteries and for litter through windows.
“Churches, schools, and colleges should assist in educating on proper waste handling to shape the values, attitude and behavior of our society. People should shun litter and handle waste in a manner that prevents pollution,” said Rtd Brig-Gen Mutinhiri.
An inclusive clean-up and awareness programme is currently underway throughout Mashonaland East province.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mutinhiri said, “All the nine districts are undertaking various anti-litter activities such as clean-up campaigns, roadblocks, school talk shows and bin installation.
“If waste is not properly disposed, it will find its way into storm drains, streams, rivers and dams thereby clogging the ecosystems and causing pollution.”
Government recently gave local authorities a one-month ultimatum to stop pollution and ensure a healthy and clean environment in line with the Constitution or face litigation.
Environment, Water and Climate Minister Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said most local authorities were abdicating their responsibility while collecting millions in rates.
She said Government was working on legal provisions to introduce mandatory community service for litter bugs.