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Ellen Chasokela Herald Reporter

THE fast-changing technological world has seen a major shift in people’s tastes covering almost all spheres of live.

Some now call it the wireless generation, while others opt to call it the microwave or instant noodles generation.

People no longer want to burden themselves with “undue work” where they can do things quickly and hop to the next port of call. Mothers have joined the bandwagon, no longer see value in “napkins”.

They have since moved over to disposable diapers, which are strapped on babies and once soiled, can be thrown away, without the torture of having them washed compared to the traditional napkins.

Most companies that manufactured nappies in Zimbabwe and beyond, have either downsized, shut or changed technologies and moved over to diaper making.

While they have brought convenience to “busy people”, they have brought an environmental crisis.

The diapers are thrown all over the place, and dogs always have a way of resurrecting them by dragging them from the heaps of waste, especially in high-density areas where garbage collection by local authorities, has become erratic largely due to incompetence.

Some of the diapers pulled from rubbish bins by dogs, have found their way back onto the streets and when it rains, they are immediately swept into sewer systems causing blockages.

Health hazard

Disposable diapers fall under medical waste which contributes three percent of the 1,6 million tonnes of refuse collected in the country per year.

While it is generally acknowledged that disposable diapers are now a menace it appears authorities are at a loss on how to deal with them.

Director for Environmental Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Mr Victor Nyamandi, said environmental management policies have to be tightened and adhered to in order to reduce random waste disposal.

“Poor waste collection has encouraged people to bury waste such as diapers in the ground. This, however, has devastating effects on water supplies as through seepage, waste will eventually mix with underground water.

The probability of contaminating the source of drinking water by pathogens such as bacteria and viruses is very high.

“Dumping of used diapers at illegal open dump sites exposes communities to diarrhoeal diseases and obnoxious odours and some other gases produced are toxic to humans therefore safe disposal of diapers is vital,” he said.

Environmental Management Agency (EMA) environmental education and publicity manager Mrs Amkela Sidange said soiled diapers have become a nuisance in the society and should be dealt with effectively.

“As an agency we have not yet come up with the best solution on how to dispose them but we have some suggestions.

“Those who handle the diapers should ensure that the baby’s waste is removed first and flushed in a toilet before disposing of the diaper in the bin.

“In some communities, they are actually burying the diapers because they argue that they act as a water retention source for cultivation purposes but we do not encourage this.

“We urge manufacturers to come up with possible solutions on how to dispose of these disposable diapers,’’ said Mrs Sidange. Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme urged mothers and babysitters to clean diapers before disposal and take them for incineration after use.

While most disposable diapers can decompose within five months as they are made of cotton, the super absorbent gel and plastic products in them need at least 500 years to                                                    decompose.

The country is using the SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvements) and BEST strategy (Behaviour, Environmental improvement, Social inclusion, Treatment and Care) which has key health promotion on proper diaper disposals that include flushing solid waste down the toilet, stopping dumping diapers in the recycle bin, purchasing a separate hands-free bin for diaper disposal and removing the garbage bag liner when the bin is full.