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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Reporter
Paper and plastic recycling companies should invest more to ensure a clean environment, amid revelations that 43 percent of total waste in urban areas is made up of paper and plastic, Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development Minister Mike Bimha has said.

Officially opening the inaugural conference for the Corporate Social Responsibility Network Zimbabwe in Harare on Friday, Minister Bimha said plastic contributed 18 percent to waste, while paper contributed 25 percent and biodegradable waste 32 percent.

He said recycling plastic and paper reduced urban waste by 43 percent.
“The world is moving very fast on production processes and products that have a positive impact on the environment,” said Minister Bimha. “We have no choice, but to run with the world and consider the environment first, as we manufacture our products and market them.”

Minister Bimha said while there had been a proliferation of small to medium enterprises investing in recycling plastics, more investment was needed.

“A quick assessment on our urban settings shows that there is poor waste management evidenced by the huge amount of plastic paper and biodegradable matter, among others,” said Minister Bimha.

He urged recycling companies to work closely with youths in the collection of plastics around cities and also pay reasonable prices to entice people to do the work.

Minister Bimha urged the recycling companies to establish collection points, days and times to make it easier for those collecting to take the waste to the designated points.

“My ministry is working hard to bring recycling companies and small to medium enterprises together to ensure that as the former obtains raw materials the later cleans the environment and earns a decent income,” he said.
“It should be a win-win situation.”

Minister Bimha challenged non-governmental organisations to facilitate the growth of SMEs that were capable of implementing environmentally friendly strategies.

He further applauded the CSR Network of Zimbabwe for taking corporate social responsibility through cleaning the environment to greater heights.

“The need to create cleaner, greener, vibrant, industrialised and growing cities for our future generations cannot be overemphasised,” said Minister Bimha.

Speaking at the same occasion, UNDP resident coordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli said the private sector had a role to play in alleviating factors leading to climate change, one of the key Sustainable Development Goals.

In a speech read on his behalf by the UNDP’s senior economic advisor, Dr Amara Koon Bandara, Mr Parajuli said this was the time to act on environmental preservation to halt the effects of climate change.

“Private sector should hold themselves responsible for the environmental and social impact of their actions, above and beyond what is required by legislation and regulation,” said Mr Parajuli.

CSR Network of Zimbabwe director Mr Willard Razawo said his organisation was working towards creating conducive cities through keeping them free from waste and ensuring proper transport management.

He said in the same process, they were also looking forward to finding solutions on how growth points can attract investment to curb rural to urban migration.