Were you an environmental steward in 2017?
THE year is coming to an end in five days’ time. We hope that 2017 has been a successful year to all our stakeholders. Thank you all for your contribution towards attaining a clean, safe and healthy environment, supporting an empowered society and a growing economy.
It is prudent to utilise the remainder of the year in taking stock of our actions and see where we did well or bad for the environment which we live and depend on.
You need to ask yourself a few questions.
◆ Did I contribute positively to environmental well-being?
◆ Were my actions on the environment centred on sustainable environmental management?
◆ Am I not the one who polluted the water bodies close to my home?
◆ Am I not behind the environmental degradation in my area?
◆ Was I not one of the people who littered the environment?
◆ Congratulations if you were a good environmental steward in 2017. If not, let the old habits die as the year ends. Give yourself another chance in 2018. Play your part towards greening our lovely nation and solving the pressing environmental issues at hand, such as waste management, land degradation, pollution and veld fire management.
What roles do different stakeholders have in waste management? Corporates
◆ Adopt the cradle to the grave principle, which refers to the responsibility a company takes for the entire life cycle of a product, service or program, from design to disposal or termination. Ensure there are sufficient waste receptacles servicing your premises.
◆ Maintain the frontage, back corridors and sanitary lanes of you work premises clean at all times.
◆ Donate branded bins to Local Authorities. This will serve a dual purpose; it acts as a way of advertising and at the same time assists in the provision of bins. Organise regular clean ups to keep shopping centres, business premises and working areas clean and attractive to customers.
◆ ‘Adopt’ zones in your city/town and maintain it clean on a regular basis. The zone can be a street, round about, island, business/shopping centre and bus termini.
Residents
Form community based organisations (CBOs) and regularly clean up residential frontage, backyards and streets in your area.
◆ Separate your waste at source. Sell the recyclables to recycling companies. Compost all material that is biodegradable. Use the manure for your vegetable gardens and flower beds. Alternatively, you can sell the manure to those who need it. Avoid burning waste, the fumes can cause cancer. Avoid dumping of waste.
Schools, Colleges & Universities
◆ Form environmental groups to spearhead clean-up of institutional frontage and roads leading to these institutions and back corridors and sanitary lanes.
◆ Adopt areas/zones for clean-up and enhance the school and the community relationships.
◆ Set up cages to collect plastics, glass, cans for pupils/students.
◆ Collect recyclables at home and bring to school on a set day.
Local Authorities
◆ Develop Communication and education platforms for your areas. Develop waste management plans and implement them. Construct properly lined landfill where waste is disposed of. The Environmental Management Agency wishes you a prosperous 2018.
Environmental Facts, Tips and Updates are published weekly by the Environmental Management Agency. Send your feedback to; eep@ema.co.zw, like us on Facebook: Environmental Management Agency and twitter:@EMAeep or visit our website www.ema. co.zw. Alternatively, call us on: Tel 086 77006244 and Toll-free 08080028; or use our WhatsApp platform 0779565707. We are ready to listen.