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Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new, useful products, or reusing the items from which utility can still be derived and has become one of the many ways of waste management. Recycling is done to reduce the use of raw materials; it uses less energy and is a great way of controlling air, water and land pollution. It is important to recycle waste so that we conserve natural resources for generations to come.

A large amount of energy can be saved by simply reusing the plastic items. Plastic factories produce large amounts of smoke when making plastic, if we don’t have a proper waste disposal system, untreated effluent can be discharged into water bodies, causing pollution. Recycling waste thus reduces pollution.

Waste separation: Colour coded bins are being adapted in many developing and developed countries as a means of waste separation which makes the process of recycling easier. Colour coding of bins helps both in the process of segregation and in the collection of waste.

It also helps save time in the waste collection process. Zimbabwe has adopted the colour coded bins with the Yellow bin for disposing paper, Blue for cans, Red for glass, Green for plastics and the Black bin for general waste. One can still practice waste separation in the absence of these colour coded bins, what is important is to grasp the concept and help reduce waste by supplying recycling companies with waste for the manufacturing of new products.

Advantages of recycling
1. Protecting the environment: The foremost benefit of recycling is that it helps in protecting the environment. While many trees are cut down continually, recycled paper made from certain trees can be re-used repeatedly to minimize felling of trees or deforestation. With re-cycled paper as an outstanding example, a number of other natural resources can be reused this way.

2. Reduces energy consumption: A large amount of energy is consumed by processing raw materials at the time of manufacture. Recycling helps to minimize energy consumption, which is crucial for massive production, such as mining or refining. This also makes the production process very cost-effective and beneficial for manufacturers.

3. Reduces pollution: Industrial waste today is the main source of all types of pollution. Recycling of industrial products such as cans, chemical, plastics helps to cut down pollution levels considerably, as these materials are re-used, instead of throwing them away irresponsibly.

4. Reduces global warming: Recycling helps to alleviate global warming and its effects. Massive waste is burnt in heaps which produces large amount of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons. Recycling ensures that the burning process is minimized and any waste is re-generated as a useful product with no or minimal harmful impact on the environment. Recycling produces less greenhouse gases as industries burn fewer fossil fuels for eco-friendly products.

5. Promotes the sustainable use of resources: Recycling promotes judicial and sustainable use of resources. This process ensures that there is no discriminate use of any material when abundantly available in the present. Recycling is encouraged at all levels, starting from school to corporate offices and at international levels. This means we can preserve all precious resources for future generations, without any compromise in the present.

6. Conserves natural resources: If old and used materials are not recycled, the new products are made from extracting fresh raw materials from beneath the earth through mining and extraction. Recycling helps in conserving important raw materials and protects natural habitats for the future. Conserving natural resources such as wood, water and minerals ensures optimum use.

7. Reduces amount of waste to landfills: Recycling old waste products into new products reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfills. This helps in reducing water and land pollution as landfills are a major source contributing to destruction of the natural environment.

8. Create green jobs: Recycling is good for the environment and apart from that it also creates green jobs.
Waste reduction-everyone’s responsibility

You too can play a part in reducing waste by supplying recycling companies with waste products at a price or can embrace the “trash to cash” principle by being involved in various recycling projects. EMA currently works with 75 Community Based Organisations (CBOs) countrywide who have positively transformed their lives through engaging in waste recycling activities. CBOs are groups of individuals who have a passion for the environment and voluntarily come together with the same objective of managing their physical environment.
Converting trash to cash

Over the years people began to realise that waste could be turned into a resource and converted to money and more groups (CBOs) were formed. They started producing a variety of products from waste and a substantial number of these groups are earning a living from such projects.

Their interventions include the production of petroleum products such as floor polish and candles from plastic, collection of recyclable materials such as plastic, bottles, paper and cardboard, cans, scrap metal for sale while some are involved in the actual recycling. The majority of these groups make artefacts and some collect biodegradable waste for manure production.

In response to this and having seen the potential that communities have in waste management, EMA in collaboration with local authorities established community groups to partake in proper waste management activities in their localities.

Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation (ZIMASSET). In this economic blueprint, waste management has been identified as one of the priority areas which can also be instrumental in improving community livelihoods. Waste management is everyone’s business. You also can make a difference in your community in your own small way; collectively our efforts make a difference. Reduce, recycle, re-use-Keep Zimbabwe Clean

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