Published by the government of Zimbabwe
7 November 2007
Harare — Developing countries should come up with incentives that promote the establishment of waste management enterprises, which has a great potential of creating employment for women and young people, the International Labour Organisation has said.
In a statement at the official opening of a training workshop on Solid Waste Management in Zimbabwe, ILO Southern Africa regional director Professor Tayo Fashoyini said community waste management also has a potential of improving the environment and living conditions. "So for a sustainable management, there is need to develop incentives that promote the establishment of waste management enterprises among community-based and small and medium enterprises, which have a great potential for job creation," Prof Fashoyini said.
He said developing countries, including Zimbabwe, were facing problems of solid waste management but this could be transformed through community-based waste collection initiatives. "Experience has shown that community-based waste collection and recycling activities offer a great potential for improving the environment and living conditions.
"This also contributes to poverty reduction, particularly for women and young people among whom the unemployment rate is higher," he said. He added that waste collection and recycling could be transformed into decent work and be used as a way to eradicate poverty. Prof Fashoyini said solving waste management problems called for commitment and a collective approach. He emphasised the need for commitment and active co-operation between stakeholders, including policymakers, for the waste business to prosper.
He drew an example of Dar-es-Salam in Tanzania where the problem of waste management was serious and the city was unsightly and filthy leading to the outbreak of diseases.
But, he said, with the help of the ILO and other development partners the city is now clean. He said this was managed through a public partnership framework focusing on promoting employment opportunities and income generating activities within the solid waste management sector. Prof Fashoyini added that Zimbabwe could also emulate the same system used in Tanzania and the ILO was prepared to assist with the resources.
"Waste can be turned into business opportunities. "In line with this ILO is looking at how employment and income opportunities can be created, the environment and services improved through the participation of people in waste management in our communities," he said. Giving an overview on refuse collection, the City of Harare waste management operations manager Mr Emmanuel Muza said the council was doing its best to address the problem of waste management.
"We have a problem of waste being dumped everywhere in the city but we are trying to do our best in collecting and disposing it," he said. He added that the council was using the conventional methods of collecting and disposing waste and was also looking into other possible ways of dealing with waste. He added that the other setback was the uneconomic rates that were impacting on their operations but this had since been addressed and the city was now progressing.
Mr Muza indicated that the city was set to introduce new strategies such as collection of waste with push carts as the country was facing fuel shortages. "The new strategies we expect to put in place are expected to contribute to employment creation as well as improving waste collection in communities," Mr Muza said. Representatives from the Environment Management Authority, community-based organisations from Kuwadzana, Dzivaresekwa, Chitungwiza and Mbare, and other environmental organisations attended the weeklong workshop.
The workshop organised by ILO in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism seeks to increase understanding between stakeholders and various other players in waste management sector on business opportunities created by waste.
It also aims to allow the community-based waste management organisations to share, exchange ideas and have a better understanding of waste management.
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