MUTARE –The Environmental Management Agency will crack down on persons who are failing to follow proper waste management procedures in a four day intensive blitz.
EMA Manicaland Provincial Manager, Kingstones Chitotombe said this four day blitzkrieg will target the general public, businesses and public service vehicles.
Chitotombe warned against indiscriminate disposal of waste, an offense according to the Environment Management Act with public offenders attracting fines from level 3 of $20,00 while business fines stretch to level 14 of $5000,00.
“As parts of efforts to curb littering the Agency is going to carry [out] an intensive blitz operation in Manicaland starting from the 26th to 29th of January 2016. We are urging the general public and businesses not to litter.
“Littering is a criminal offense according to the Environment Management Act (CAP 20:27) and offenders will be brought to book. The fines for littering go up to level 3 which translates to $20,00 and for illegal dumping the fines go up to level 14 which is $5000,00.
“To this effect I am calling on everyone to take it upon themselves to make sure that waste is disposed properly,” he said.
Chitotombe also made revelations that increased vendor activities were fueling the rate of littering in both rural and urban areas as he urged local authorities to provide adequate waste disposal infrastructure.
He said the agency had engaged local authorities to provide adequate waste management infrastructure including litter receptacles as well as setting up landfills.
EMA is also calling for motorists to have trash bags in their vehicles to avoid littering the highways, while at household level residents have been encouraged to practice waste separation.
“The Agency is calling for the following [that] local authorities should provide adequate waste bins at strategic sites for pedestrians. They should invest in standard landfills for waste disposal other than waste dumps that are being used by the majority of them.
“We have raised awareness around this issue and we are informed that the City of Mutare is at an advanced stage to set up properly lined landfills to reduce the burden of litter,” said Chitotombe.
Adding that, “At household level the Agency is encouraging residents to do waste separation, biodegradable matter should be composted for manure and other matter can be reused or recycled, this helps to reduce the volume of waste that end up at disposal site[s].”
Chitotombe said the problem of littering was also being exacerbated by business people who are over packaging their products urging business people to shun use of plastic carrier bags.
He said shoppers should instead opt for alternative carriage like paper, khaki wrappers and cardboard boxes to carry their goods.
“We urge the business community to shun the use of thin plastic carrier packaging as it contributes to the littering challenges being experienced in towns.
“I am therefore encouraging everyone to make use of shopping bags as well as baskets and not the disposable thin plastics. We are encouraging people to look for alternatives where possible such as paper wrappers, Khaki wrappers, cardboard boxes and fiber containers,” he said
