Solution needed to garbage accumulation in cities Uncollected solid waste is a key contributor to flooding in towns and cities, and to air and water pollution
Uncollected solid waste is a key contributor to flooding in towns and cities, and to air and water pollution

Uncollected solid waste is a key contributor to flooding in towns and cities, and to air and water pollution

Jeffrey Gogo Climate Story
ZIMBABWEANS in towns and cities produce an average 2 356 tonnes of garbage everyday or 859 940 per year- enough waste to fill the entire surface area of seven football pitches – and the 17th highest rate in Africa – according to a World Bank report.

By 2025, this figure will more than double to 5 277 tonnes, the bank says, as urbanisation and economic development grow steadily.

Over 7,5 million people will be staying in towns and cities here within the next decade, compared to the current 4,4 million, the World Bank says.

On a per capita basis, Zimbabweans generate 0,53 kilogramme of trash per household each day, in line with much of Africa.

Only South Africa, Algeria, the Seychelles, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritius and Botswana whose per capita generation ranges between one and three tonnes, produce more. For the island nations of Seychelles and Mauritius it is more a question of inadequate space than it is for bad municipal solid waste management practices.

The World Bank data shows that island nations the world over are in a similar fix.

Households in Trinidad and Tobago produce 14,4kg of garbage per day, and those in Kuwait, St Kitts, Guyana, Sri Linka and others more than 5kg

Here, though, even in ten years’ time, household solid waste production will still remain significantly lower compared to other African countries, at just 0,7kg everyday – mainly due to a slower rate of growth in incomes.

“Solid waste is the most visible and pernicious by-product of a resource-intensive, consumer-based economic lifestyle,” says the World Bank in its report, ‘What a Waste.’

“Solid waste is inextricably linked to urbanisation and economic development,” it affirms. As countries urbanise, their economic wealth increases. As standards of living and disposable incomes increase, consumption of goods and services increases, which results in a corresponding increase in the amount of waste generated.”

According to the World Bank, solid waste includes non-hazardous waste produced in homes, businesses, industry and agriculture. It can also include sewage sludge.

Emissions potential

The World Bank report presents one of the most comprehensive data on the current and future trends in global production of solid waste – a major source of climate changing methane gas.

While the figures may not be entirely new, they do indicate a trajectory of growth in both urbanisation and waste generation in the coming years, often times the former climbing much faster than the later.

Today, about three billion people who reside in towns and cities around the world produce, on the average, 1,2kg of trash each per day, says the World Bank.

Much of the waste is collected and disposed in landfills, dumpsites, recycled or is dumped illegally.

The whole process produces greenhouse gases at every stage – from the carbon generated by vehicles collecting garbage to the methane generated at landfills and dumpsites.

As Zimbabwe continues with its steady pace in urbanisation and economic development, garbage in cities and towns is seen rising quicker, but only 52 percent of the waste is ever collected and disposed properly by municipalities, according to a 2014 report by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

The rest is either burnt, buried underground or dumped anywhere, said the environment regulator, which puts Zimbabwe’s urban solid waste at 614 000 tonnes per year, 28 percent below the World Bank’s estimates.

Uncollected solid waste is usually a key contributor to flooding in cities and towns, and to air and water pollution. Such waste tends to clog waterways and canals, flooding streets and homes.

Experts say in the absence of improved solid waste management plans, this will likely push Zimbabwe’s annual emissions of 417 gigatonnes of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, higher.

In 2000, the waste sector accounted for 16 percent of national methane emissions, Government data shows.

“The indiscriminate dumping of solid waste, littering and poor management of waste poses environmental and health hazards to the urban population of Zimbabwe,” says the Zimbabwe Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan of 2014, produced with funding from the UN Environment Programme.

“It is now affecting the value of properties; creating an environment where disease-causing vectors can thrive; contributing to air, soil and water pollution; and emitting greenhouse gases that cause global warming.”

The World Bank says at least 40 percent of all urban solid waste in Zimbabwe is organic, 21 percent paper, 20 percent plastic, 4 percent each for glass and metal, and 11 percent other.

To put things into perspective, Zimbabweans in cities generate half as much food waste as the 700 000 tonnes of the maize staple produced countrywide last summer. Wasteful, really.

This is happening at a time 4 million people are at risk of going hungry this year due to a biting drought caused by El Nino.

Globally, however, Zimbabwe’s trash generation ranks next to nothing compared to the world’s advanced economies.

The US’ everyday garbage output of 624 700 tonnes almost equals Zimbabwe’s annual solid waste production.

In other words, the US generates almost the same amount of garbage in one day as is produced by Zimbabwe in 365 days.

Across Africa, South Africa is the number one producer of solid waste with 53 425 tonnes released daily followed by Nigeria at 40 900 tonnes and Egypt 40 000 tonnes. Morocco and Algeria account for more than 23 000 tonnes of trash production each per day.

In SADC, the island nation of Madagascar generates more waste than those countries in-land, at 3 700 tonnes per day. This may partly have to do with its location and a lack of recycling facilities. Zambia – 852 tonnes, Mozambique 1 100 tonnes, Namibia 356 tonnes and Malawi 1 150 tonnes.

With so much garbage on the loose, the world is in a decidedly in a permanent state of emergency as climate change concerns linger on.

God is faithful.

[email protected]

ZIMBABWEANS in towns and cities produce an average 2 356 tonnes of garbage everyday or 859 940 per year- enough waste to fill the entire surface area of seven football pitches – and the 17th highest rate in Africa – according to a World Bank report.By 2025, this figure will more than double to 5 277 tonnes, the bank says, as urbanisation and economic development grow steadily.Over 7,5 million people will be staying in towns and cities here within the next decade, compared to the current 4,4 million, the World Bank says.On a per capita basis, Zimbabweans generate 0,53 kilogramme of trash per household each day, in line with much of Africa.Only South Africa, Algeria, the Seychelles, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritius and Botswana whose per capita generation ranges between one and three tonnes, produce more. For the island nations of Seychelles and Mauritius it is more a question of inadequate space than it is for bad municipal solid waste management practices. The World Bank data shows that island nations the world over are in a similar fix.Households in Trinidad and Tobago produce 14,4kg of garbage per day, and those in Kuwait, St Kitts, Guyana, Sri Linka and others more than 5kgHere, though, even in ten years’ time, household solid waste production will still remain significantly lower compared to other African countries, at just 0,7kg everyday – mainly due to a slower rate of growth in incomes.“Solid waste is the most visible and pernicious by-product of a resource-intensive, consumer-based economic lifestyle,” says the World Bank in its report, ‘What a Waste.’“Solid waste is inextricably linked to urbanisation and economic development,” it affirms. As countries urbanise, their economic wealth increases. As standards of living and disposable incomes increase, consumption of goods and services increases, which results in a corresponding increase in the amount of waste generated.”According to the World Bank, solid waste includes non-hazardous waste produced in homes, businesses, industry and agriculture. It can also include sewage sludge.Emissions potentialThe World Bank report presents one of the most comprehensive data on the current and future trends in global production of solid waste – a major source of climate changing methane gas.While the figures may not be entirely new, they do indicate a trajectory of growth in both urbanisation and waste generation in the coming years, often times the former climbing much faster than the later.Today, about three billion people who reside in towns and cities around the world produce, on the average, 1,2kg of trash each per day, says the World Bank.Much of the waste is collected and disposed in landfills, dumpsites, recycled or is dumped illegally. The whole process produces greenhouse gases at every stage – from the carbon generated by vehicles collecting garbage to the methane generated at landfills and dumpsites.As Zimbabwe continues with its steady pace in urbanisation and economic development, garbage in cities and towns is seen rising quicker, but only 52 percent of the waste is ever collected and disposed properly by municipalities, according to a 2014 report by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA). The rest is either burnt, buried underground or dumped anywhere, said the environment regulator, which puts Zimbabwe’s urban solid waste at 614 000 tonnes per year, 28 percent below the World Bank’s estimates.Uncollected solid waste is usually a key contributor to flooding in cities and towns, and to air and water pollution. Such waste tends to clog waterways and canals, flooding streets and homes.Experts say in the absence of improved solid waste management plans, this will likely push Zimbabwe’s annual emissions of 417 gigatonnes of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, higher. In 2000, the waste sector accounted for 16 percent of national methane emissions, Government data shows.“The indiscriminate dumping of solid waste, littering and poor management of waste poses environmental and health hazards to the urban population of Zimbabwe,” says the Zimbabwe Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan of 2014, produced with funding from the UN Environment Programme.“It is now affecting the value of properties; creating an environment where disease-causing vectors can thrive; contributing to air, soil and water pollution; and emitting greenhouse gases that cause global warming.”The World Bank says at least 40 percent of all urban solid waste in Zimbabwe is organic, 21 percent paper, 20 percent plastic, 4 percent each for glass and metal, and 11 percent other.To put things into perspective, Zimbabweans in cities generate half as much food waste as the 700 000 tonnes of the maize staple produced countrywide last summer. Wasteful, really. This is happening at a time 4 million people are at risk of going hungry this year due to a biting drought caused by El Nino.Globally, however, Zimbabwe’s trash generation ranks next to nothing compared to the world’s advanced economies. The US’ everyday garbage output of 624 700 tonnes almost equals Zimbabwe’s annual solid waste production. In other words, the US generates almost the same amount of garbage in one day as is produced by Zimbabwe in 365 days.Across Africa, South Africa is the number one producer of solid waste with 53 425 tonnes released daily followed by Nigeria at 40 900 tonnes and Egypt 40 000 tonnes. Morocco and Algeria account for more than 23 000 tonnes of trash production each per day. In SADC, the island nation of Madagascar generates more waste than those countries in-land, at 3 700 tonnes per day. This may partly have to do with its location and a lack of recycling facilities. Zambia – 852 tonnes, Mozambique 1 100 tonnes, Namibia 356 tonnes and Malawi 1 150 tonnes.With so much garbage on the loose, the world is in a decidedly in a permanent state of emergency as climate change concerns linger on.
God is faithful.
[email protected]

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