Garbage collection overwhelms council

Nokuthula Dube

HARARE is generating close to 1 000 tonnes of solid waste every day, while the city’s fleet of 25 refuse trucks can only collect 360 tonnes daily.

This has exacerbated Harare’s solid waste crisis, resulting in large garbage dumps proliferating throughout the city.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Harare town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said residential areas contributed the bulk of the waste.

“About 995 tonnes of waste are generated in Harare daily, with 70 percent of this generated in residential areas and 30 percent coming from industrial and commercial activities,” he said.

“The city’s current refuse management assets comprising 15 compactors, seven tipper trucks and three skip trucks can collect 360 tonnes per day. The city has established some material recovery centres, and 5 percent of the waste generated is recycled at these centres.”

The lack of adequate refuse trucks has contributed to the emergence and recurrence of waste dumps.

“The year will see the city procure 15 refuse compactors, five skip trucks and three hook-loader trucks and associated bins,” said Eng Chisango. “These assets will increase the city’s capacity to collect a further 485 tonnes per day.”

Harare, he said, planned to construct additional material recovery centres, while engaging private waste collectors.

Material recovery centres are facilities where waste is sorted and recyclable materials like paper, plastic and metal are separated from organic waste and general trash.

Last year, President Mnangagwa declared a “state of disaster” in all four local authorities under Harare Metropolitan Province due to poor waste management. Environmental Management Agency (EMA) environment education and publicity manager Ms Amkela Sidange said following the declaration and the subsequent rollout of Operation Chenesa Harare, waste management in the city improved.

“The agency remained equal to the assigned tasks under the declaration such as ensuring local authorities collect waste according to waste-collection schedules,” she said.

“Over 800 public waste bins were mobilised from various stakeholders and placed across the province. An estimated 2 000 illegal dumps were removed during the operation across the province, too. Actually, waste collection rose to an estimated average 800 tonnes a day, compared to a paltry plus or minus 200 tonnes outside the operations, meaning the deficit is replete in the environment.”

Ms Sidange said local authorities should religiously commit to providing service delivery. “The agency asked the council to come up with a sustainability plan, which the agency will monitor. The agency is also issuing orders to remove waste so that we don’t reverse the gains of Chenesa. The council should also promote community-based recycling initiatives by coming up with recycling centres to support waste separation at household and all other levels, including workplaces,’’ she said.