Community-based waste management initiative: case study from Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Management of municipal solid waste remains a challenge for many countries south of African Sahara. This is attributed to inadequate local authority capacity to handle waste, rapid urbanisation, poor legislation and lack of public concern. Most of the waste generated is discarded into the surrounding environment causing significant health hazards. In Epworth, Zimbabwe a community-based group called CNM uses locally available equipment to collect and manage reusable material from the waste. This paper outlines how community based waste management groups offer solutions to waste management problems in developing countries and some of the challenges faced by them.