Waste disposal remains a very big problem in most developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Of major concern is the inappropriate disposal of plastic waste which will remain laying where it is disposed of for centuries to come. Plastic is not only a nuisance because it makes the environment look unpleasant to the sight but also because of the long term effects it has on the environment.
Despite the municipal councils setting up designated places for waste disposal especially in public places like markets, there are always some individuals who will avoid disposing their waste at these designated places in order to avoid the small fee that the municipal council charges for waste handling.
In most African Countries, including my home Country Zambia, sorting of waste at the household level is almost non-existent. Food waste, paper, plastic and other household waste are disposed of in the same bins. A typical household will usually have a pit dug mostly at the back of the house where all types of trash are thrown in and when it is full, the pit is covered with soil on top and a new one is dug at another position within the yard. Sometimes, when the pit is almost full, attempts can be made to burn the waste in an effort to reduce its volume in the pit. Other households after covering the pit with soil would plant some vegetables. The elite few in communities will typically pay for waste collection services where waste is picked up right from their door steps.
In the midst of all this waste disorder, a 67 year old woman of Kitwe (Copperbelt province of Zambia) has come up with a brilliant initiative of upscaling waste plastic bottles into bags. She collects waste plastic bottles of beverages and makes beautiful bags out of them. She is not only able to earn an income from this but is also playing a very important role in helping to save our environment. You can read more about Joyce on the following link https://www.facebook.com/pg/radioicengelo88.9/posts/?ref=page_internal
Although such initiatives might not receive the necessary financial support they deserve in order to make outscaling possible, they might present a turning point on how waste is handled.
Perhaps what can really be key is sensitizing people on the long term impacts of plastic on the environment. Furthermore, teaching communities on how they can convert biodegradable waste to compost or bio-gas can help them to start sorting and disposing of waste differently.
Find out more about how you can manage your waste and take part in recycling from the links below: