Side dumping of garbage, including diapers, is a common sight in Harare, Zimbabwe, as City of Harare lag behind on refuse collection owing to the lack of affordable and accessible waste disposal options for residents.
Diapers are a particularly problematic type of waste, as they contain human feces and urine making them a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and viruses, when diapers are dumped on the side of the road, they can contaminate the soil and water, posing a serious health risk to people and animals.
During the rainy season, the risk of contamination is even greater as rainwater can wash the harmful bacteria and viruses from the diapers into nearby water bodies, such as rivers and streams polluting the drinking water supply and lead to the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
Sights in high density suburbs of Harare like Kuwadzana are evidenced by side dumping of garbage at roadsides.
Speaking to the publicity officer from Environmental Management Authority Amkela Sidange she said most local authorities are failing to collect waste as per schedule, which in turn pose as a health risk.
“Issues of waste management remain an issue throughout the country; most local authorities are failing to collect waste as per schedule and these results in pronouncements on illegal dumps all over and this reduces the aesthetic value of the environment.”
“Illegal waste dumps become breeding ground for disease causing vectors, such as cholera and typhoid and this at the end of the day is a cause for concern when we look at public health, when it rains waste is washed into water bodies thus polluting the water,” Sidange said.
She added that due to the non-collection residents are now resorting to burning of waste and this causes air pollution and an issue of public health with results in respiratory problems.
In addition to the health hazards, side dumping of diapers also has a negative impact on the environment.
Diapers are made of non-biodegradable materials, such as plastic and synthetic fibers, meaning they will not break down naturally and will remain in the environment for hundreds of years.
“If we remain with these dumps we will remain with these disease causing vectors issues of flash flooding, recent rains received in some parts of the country have been a litmus test. “
“Diapers remain an issue of concern it’s actually an environmental concern when we look at the disposal mechanism as the agency we want to encourage the users of those diapers to dispose them properly while the country is trying to look for a lasting solution it remains the responsibility of users to dispose of them properly,” Sidange said.
The Harare City Council needs to improve its refuse collection services which will make it less likely that residents will resort to side dumping their garbage.
Stanley Gama Harare City Council spokesperson said they are working on increasing their fleet to ensure smooth collection of waste.
“The city is frantically working on repairing our current fleet so that we have enough numbers to enable the city to frequently and efficiently collect waste.”
“The city has been divided into 36 areas from where solid waste should be collected on a daily basis and currently is operating at an average of 14 refuse compactors,” Gama said.
The government needs to provide affordable and accessible waste disposal options for residents. This could include the construction of more sanitary landfills and incinerators.
In Harare, Zimbabwe, the improper disposal of garbage, notably including diapers, poses a severe environmental and health hazard. The city’s struggle with efficient refuse collection, compounded by the scarcity of affordable waste disposal solutions, leads to the frequent side dumping of trash. Diapers, laden with human waste, become hotbeds for dangerous pathogens. When abandoned by roadsides, they risk soil and water contamination, endangering both human and animal health. This issue escalates during the rainy season when runoff can carry these pathogens into waterways, contaminating sources of drinking water and potentially triggering outbreaks of waterborne diseases. The situation underscores the critical need for improved waste management systems and public awareness regarding the health risks of improper waste disposal.