CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction

In Zimbabwe, urban areas continue to grow at a much faster rate than the provision and

expansion of necessary infrastructure and services. This has created waste management

problems as most local authorities have severe financial constraints, curtailing their ability to

provide effective waste disposal. All the towns, cities and growth points face the challenge of

littering, waste dumping and or improper waste disposal due to lack of integrated waste

management strategies. In the world today many people are realising that there is value in

what other people have discarded as waste. Examples from many developing countries show

that people are making a living from the collection of waste plastics, waste paper, cardboard

boxes to name but a few. A number of organisations are working with communitybased

organisation in Africa (eg Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda etc) and Asia (Sri Lanka,

Indonesia etc) to come up with sound business ventures in waste collection(ILO/SIRDC,

2007)

The world produces 4 billion tones of all types of waste per year, but only a quarter is

currently diverted from disposal. Even with high rates of valuable products in municipal solid

waste, such as cardboards, plastics, glass, and metals (up to 50% in the developing countries).

The recycling and waste claims have been hardly profitable, considering the low prices of

recycling materials on the global market. (T.Kelly et al, 2011). Recycling means taking a

product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to

make another product. Waste recycling is the process of reclaiming material that would

otherwise be disposed of as waste. It is a method of resource recovery. The modern trend in

1
waste management is to consider waste material as a resource to be exploited, instead of

simply a nuisance to be managed and deposited off. The material maybe extracted and

recycled, or converted to another product. The process of extracting resources or value from

waste is variously referred to as secondary resource recovery, recycling and other terms.

There is growing acknowledgement that disposing waste is unsustainable in the long term as

there is finite supply of most raw materials (ILO/SIRDC, 2007). Waste reuse is a form of

recycling, which refers to using something again without any transformation processes,

which would otherwise have been thrown away. A good example for waste that is re-used is

waste paper. Waste paper can be newspapers, magazines and books, cardboard and mixed

papers etc. Waste paper is re-used as toilet paper, tobacco paper, wrapping paper for

foodstuff and others.

Thormark (2001) defined recycling potential as the environmental impact from production of

that material whereby the recycled material will be a susbstitute for less the environmental

impact from the recycling processes and connected transport. The recycling potential can

therefore shortly be described as a way to express how much of the embodied energy and

natural resources which, through reuse and recycling could be conserved.

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Table 1.1: General composition of waste collected by some Local authorities in

Zimbabwe,(maximum recorded % of total weight) in 1995, 1998, 2004.

Urban Paper & Glass & Metals Plastics Leather Textiles Vegetab Misc
area cardboard Ceramics & les /
Rubber Putresci
bles
Harare 25 5 7 10 15 8 25 20

Bulawayo 20 5 10 10 3 2 10 40

Gweru 20 8 7 10 5 8 25 18

Chegutu 25 15 15 15 6 6 10 8

Shurugwi 20 10 10 15 6 6 15 18

Kadoma 22 7 9 10 8 12 25 20

Norton 15 8 17 18 4 - 26 12

Marondera 20 15 15 - 15 7 25 20

Victoria 34 6 5 15 2 4 26 8

Falls

Source: Adopted from Masocha(2004).

According to a report by the European Environment Agency (2009) that waste policies must

be seen in the broader life-cycle respective of resource use, consumption and production,

prevention, and recycling of waste are important elements in the life cycle. There are

different routes to divert waste from landfill, including prevention and recycling other thin

material and energy recovery and pretreatment. The challenge of management has been a

growing concern for the national governments, local authorities, and environmentalists,

researchers and the communities at large (Mubaiwa.2008).

3
Although many government programs are concentrated on recycling at home, a large portion

of waste is generated by industry. The focus of many recycling programs done by industry is

the cost-effectiveness of recycling. The ubiquitous nature of cardboard packaging makes

cardboard a commonly recycled waste product by companies that deal heavily in packaged

goods, like retail stores, warehouses, and distributors of goods. Other industries deal in niche

or specialized products, depending on the nature of the waste materials that are present. The

glass, lumber, wood pulp and paper manufacturers all deal directly in commonly recycled

materials. However, old rubber tires may be collected and recycled by independent tire

dealers for a profit (ILO, 2009).

Informal waste harvesting currently practiced in Zimbabwe includes activities such as:

The retrieval of waste from public places by itinerant waste harvester.

The unsanctioned retrieval of recyclables and other items of personal value from

refuse trucks by waste collectors employed by municipalities during collection.

Dumpsite recovery and the informal waste exchange involving households,

middleman, waste harvests, collectors, traders and wholesalers. However, a small

percentage of the solid waste generated is recycled.

According to the International Labour Organisation (2007), recycling needs to be

encouraged because it generates employment and income; Stimulates the build up of

industrial skill and repair and remanufacturing and prolongs the lifespan of disposal sites;

and as well as promoting sustainable resource use.

4
1.2 Problem Statement

There has been a continuous increase in the amount of waste generated in the growing

commercial and industrial sector in the City of Gweru, yet there has not been the requisite

collection and disposal services and this has resulted in increased illegal dumping of waste

resulting in environmental damage, while the majority of the waste that finally finds itself in

the environment may hold some potential of being reused and or recycling if harnessed

properly. Mubaiwa (2008), pointed out that with high rates of valuable products in municipal

solid waste, such as cardboards, plastics, glass, and metals waste still finds itself in landfills

and dumped in undesignated places such as isles in the central business district, while the

idea of landfilling is accepted by the local authorities, it takes large amounts of space as well

as poses potential threats to the environment and human health through leaching and gaseous

emissions.

1.3 Broad Objectives

To assess the Re-use and the Recycling potential of the municipal solid waste in the city of

Gweru.

1.4 Specific Objectives

To determine the major generators of solid waste in city of Gweru.

To identify the different waste streams generated in the city of Gweru.

To identify and quantify the materials that could be reused or recycled.

To assess behaviors, knowledge and attitudes of the business community towards

solid waste reuse and recycling.

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1.5 Research Questions

What are the main sources of waste generation in the Gweru city?

What is the different waste streams generated in the city of Gweru?

What are the materials and quantities that could be reused and recycled?

What are the behaviors, knowledge and attitudes of the business community in

reusing and recycling of solid waste?

1.6 Justification of the Study

The study may assist key authorities such as the Gweru City Council in the management of

solid waste, as they are the responsible authorities in waste management, as well as being the

policy makers in the implementation new waste management strategies, as well as serve as a

baseline for future studies as there is a is need to explore the reuse and the recycling potential

in order to determine the quantities and qualities of waste that is generated in the city so as to

harness it. Furthermore, there is need to explore the reuse and the recycling potential in order

to determine the quantities and qualities of waste that is generated in the city so as to harness

it. Findings of the study will necessitate SWM planning through informed decision making

and hence may bring an understanding on the nature of recycling done hence facilitating the

development of proper infrastructure to deal with the waste in recycling cost-effectively.

1.7 Assumptions

The researcher assumes that:

There are waste materials that could be reused and or recycled in the city.

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 There are no seasonal variations which might result in the possible seasonal changes

in the waste streams, as it will be very costly and time consuming to collect data

during all the seasons for all type of waste streams.

1.8 Delimitations of the Study

The research was will only cover the Gweru urban area, that consisting of the Central

Business District (CBD), The Light Industries and the Heavy industries. The research is

confined to the recycling and reuse of potential of the waste generated by the commercial and

light industrial waste, and other waste materials such as radioactive waste will not be

investigated in this study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

The study is most likely to be liable to sampling bias due to the possibility of language

barrier, personal view of the respondents representing the various organizations. Furthermore,

the selected places for data collection might not be representative of the general overview of

solid waste recycling potential in the city of Gweru due to the type of the sampling technique

used, convenience sampling technique, hence there is the possibility of over-representation or

under representation of the data generated.

The approximated quantities of recyclable waste might result in over-representation or under

representation of the data generated as well. Secondly, the un-cooperative action of the

individual respondents during the field survey confronted the researcher as a major limitation,

as the information on questionnaires is a very relevant part of the study; hence the researcher

had to be very persuasive as well as being time conscious and be very brief.

7
 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

Solid waste generated in urban areas continues to present many challenges to municipalities

worldwide and Zimbabwean municipalities are no exception. Solid waste management is a

process that encompasses the entire life-cycle of materials that have the potential for some

kind of costly disposal. The amount, characteristics, and destination of potential solid waste

can be affected at every point in the life-cycle of materials; from the production of products,

through wholesale and retail marketing, consumer purchase, use, and ultimate disposal,

recycling, or reuse (Yoder et al,. 2011).

Reuse of goods can entail reuse of the same good by another entity (perhaps after

refurbishment) (Yoder, 2011). Recycling involves the collection of used and discarded

materials processing these materials and making them into new products. It reduces the

amount of waste that is thrown into the community dustbins thereby making the environment

cleaner and the air fresher to breathe. Reuse is using a product or item in its original form

more than once (e.g., reusing a mug instead of using a disposable cup) (UNEP, 2000)

The world produces 4 billion tons of waste per year, but only a quarter is currently diverted

from disposal. Even with high prevalence of valuable products in municipal solid waste, such

as cardboards, plastics, glass, and metals (up to 50% in developed countries). The recycling

and waste claims have been hardly profitable, considering the low prices of recycling

materials on the global market. (Kelly et al, 2011)

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Surveys carried out by the United States Government and other non-government agencies in

the country have all recognized the importance of recycling wastes. However, the guidelines

for safe recycling of waste have not been standardized. Studies have revealed that 7 %-15%

of the waste is recycled in the United States of America. If recycling is done in a proper

manner, it will solve the problems of waste or garbage. At the community level, a large

number of NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) and private sector enterprises have

taken the initiative of segregation and recycling of waste. EXNORA International in Chennai

recycles a large part of the waste that is collected. It is being used for composting; making

pellets to be used in gasifies, etc. Plastics are sold to the factories that reuse them (UNEP,

2000)

2.2. Solid Waste Management and Sustainable Development

An increasing number of persons and organizations long for a future when waste will cease to

exist because it would not be produced or it would be a re-used resource. However, a lot of

awareness work need to be done to change negative attitudes that many people have towards

recycled products. This largely explains why generally there is low demand for recycled

products in Zimbabwe and the rest of SADC countries despite that most of them are cheaper

than virgin products.

Zero waste tolerance implies encouraging people to produce without waste or with as little

waste as is possible. It means that in the production and delivery of goods and services, non-

renewable resources have to be preserved, and the waste and pollution must be avoided or

kept at minimum level. Waste management promotes sustainability in those activities, such as

resources recovery, recycling/ reuse and composting reduces the raw material demand during

production as well as disposable waste, thereby saving non-renewable resources. Waste

9
management practices such as recycling promotes sustainable consumption i.e. the use of

goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while

minimizing the use of natural resources, and production of toxic materials and emissions of

waste and pollutants over the life cycle so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations

(ILO, 2007).

It is logical to assume that individuals with concern for the environment will practice pro-

environmental behaviours, like recycling, composting, and source reduction. Research has

shown that the environmental attitudes of the public have been increasing and expanding to

include a variety of demographic groups in developed countries, other than just the urban,

well-educated, and affluent groups (Mainieri et al., 1997). More specifically, in the United

States, Canada, and Great Britain, recycling programs have also expanded, making recycling

possible for more people and therefore lessening the effect of environmental concern (Schultz

et al., 1995).

2.3. Recycling

Solid Waste Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and

turning it into a usable raw material to make another product. Waste recycling is the process

of reclaiming material that would otherwise be disposed of as waste (ILO, 2007). It is a

method of resource recoveryRecycling refers to the removal of items from the waste stream

to be used as raw materials in the manufacture of new products. Thus According to this

definition, recycling occurs in three phases: first the waste is sorted and recyclables collected,

the recyclables are used to create raw materials. These raw materials are then used in the

production of new products (Al-Salem et al, 2009).

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The sorting of recyclables may be done at the source (i.e. within the household or office) for

selective collection by the municipality or to be dropped off by the waste producer at a

recycling centers. The pre-sorting at the source requires public participation which may not

be forthcoming if there are no benefits to be derived. In addition implementation of a system

of selective collection by the government can be costly. It would require more frequent

circulation of trucks within a neighborhood or the importation of more vehicles to facilitate

the collection. Another option is to mix the recyclables with the general waste stream for

collection and then sorting and recovery of the recyclable materials can be performed by the

municipality at a suitable site. The sorting by the municipality has the advantage of

eliminating the dependence on the public and ensuring that the recycling does occur. The

disadvantage however, is that the value of the recyclable materials is reduced since being

mixed in and compacted with other garbage can have adverse effects on the quality of the

recyclable material ( Al-Salem et al, 2009).

2.4 Re-using

Waste reuse is a form of recycling, which refers to using something again which would

otherwise have been thrown away. A good example for waste that is re-used is waste paper.

Waste paper can be newspapers, magazines and books, cardboard and mixed papers etc.

Waste paper is re-used as toilet paper, tobacco paper, wrapping paper for foodstuff and others

(ILO, 2007). Plastics are used in a number of applications on a daily basis. Yet some plastic

items end up in the waste stream after a single use only (single-life or cycle) or a short time

after purchase, e.g. food packaging. Re-using plastic is preferable to recycling as it uses less

energy and fewer resources. In recent years, multi-trip plastics have become a more popular

choice leading to PSW reduction in the MSW final stream. In the UK, recyclable and

11
returnable plastic crates used in transport and other purposes, have quadrupled from 1992

(8.5 million tonnes) to 2002 (35.8 million tonnes) (JCR, 2006). Re-using plastics has a

number of advantages, characterized by (i) conservation of fossil fuels since plastic

production uses 48% of global oil production, i.e. 4% as feedstock and 4% during

conversion (Perdon, 2004); (ii) reduction of energy and MSW, and (iii) reduction of carbon-

dioxide (CO2), nitrogen-oxides (NOx) and sulphur-dioxide (SO2) emissions.

In addition, the other example of re-use that was already given in earlier sessions is the re-use

of glass bottles. Glass bottles are often not thrown away or picked from the waste to be sold

to marketers for re-use in the bottling of cooking oil, beer, soft drinks, honey, etc. At

household level both glass and plastic bottles and other containers are widely re-used in the

kitchen to store drinking water, salt, sugar, pepper, etc. Things that can be re-used are called

re-usable (ILO, 2007).

2.5 Solid Waste Recycling in Harare, Zimbabwe

There are several Community Based Organizations (CBOs) involved in waste collection and

selling the collected waste to companies that recycle in Harare. Some NGOs are also

supporting these initiatives through training and financing demonstration projects. The

common waste collected is plastic. In Chitungwizas Zengeza 3, located 30km south of

Harare, three groups; Zengeza 3 Waste Management Group, Shambidzikai Environmental

Awareness & Wenhamo Cooperative are carrying out waste collection. Just Joy &

Tisinungureiwo Mbare group collects waste in Mbare. In Epworth, a peri-urban settlement,

three community-based organizations, CNM Environmental Action Group, Two by Two

Waste Collectors and Epworth Coalition for Sustainable Development (ECOSAD) are

involved in waste collection activities. These groups are offering waste collection services to

over 1000 households. The groups separate recyclable waste from organic waste and other

12
non recyclable wastes such as empty scuds and soft drinks bottles, and papers and cardboard

to companies like Delta Co-operation and National Waste Collectors respectively (ILO,

2007). This is to give you an impression of the potential of recycling. However, proper

market surveys are required to establish the marketing strategies, penetration process and

profitable pricing schemes.

Furthermore, according to the International Labour Organisation (2007), the current practice

of recovering and recycling of solid waste in Zimbabwe is still a small business because:

The activities are a major source of income and livelihood to just less than 1% of the

total urban population;

Less than 10% of waste paper, plastics and scrap metals are recycled nation wide

Recycling is confined to plastic, scrap metal, paper, cardboard and glass bottles

(mostly soft drinks deposit refund systems) because of substantial demand and

being a significant constituent of solid waste.

2.6 Cost Benefit Analysis

There is some debate over whether recycling is economically efficient. It is said that dumping

10,000 tons of waste in a landfill creates six jobs, while recycling 10,000 tons of waste can

create over 36 jobs. However, the cost effectiveness of creating the additional jobs remains

unproven. According to the U.S. Recycling Economic Informational Study, there are over

50,000 recycling establishments that have created over a million jobs in the US (Annon,

2013).

Two years after New York City declared that implementing recycling programs would be "a

drain on the city," New York City leaders realized that an efficient recycling system could

13
save the city over $20 million (Annon, 2013). Municipalities often see fiscal benefits from

implementing recycling programs, largely due to the reduced landfill costs ( Lavee, 2007). A

study conducted by the Technical University of Denmark according to the Economist found

that in 83 percent of cases, recycling is the most efficient method to dispose of household

waste (Annon, 2007). However, a 2004 assessment by the Danish Environmental Assessment

Institute concluded that incineration was the most effective method for disposing of drink

containers, even aluminum ones (Dorte, 2004).

Fiscal efficiency is separate from economic efficiency. Economic analysis of recycling do not

include what economists call externalities, which are un-priced costs and benefits that accrue

to individuals outside of private transactions. Examples include: decreased air pollution and

greenhouse gases from incineration, reduced hazardous waste leaching from landfills,

reduced energy consumption, and reduced waste and resource consumption, which leads to a

reduction in environmentally damaging mining and timber activity. About 4,000 minerals are

known, of these only a few hundred minerals in the world are relatively common. At current

rates, current known reserves of phosphorus will be depleted in the next 50 to 100 years;

hence recycling will lengthen the duration of phosphorous deposits (Annon, 2010).

Without mechanisms such as taxes or subsidies to internalize externalities, businesses will

ignore them despite the costs imposed on society. To make such no fiscal benefits

economically relevant, advocates have pushed for legislative action to increase the demand

for recycled materials. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has

concluded in favor of recycling, saying that recycling efforts reduced the country's carbon

emissions by a net 49 million metric tonnes in 2005. In the United Kingdom, the Waste and

Resources Action Programme stated that Great Britain's recycling efforts reduce CO2

emissions by 1015 million tonnes a year. Recycling is more efficient in densely populated

areas, as there are economies of scale involved (The League of Women Voters, 1993).

14
Certain requirements must be met for recycling to be economically feasible and

environmentally effective. These include an adequate source of recyclates, a system to extract

those recyclates from the waste stream, a nearby factory capable of reprocessing the

recyclates, and a potential demand for the recycled products. These last two requirements are

often overlookedwithout both an industrial market for production using the collected

materials and a consumer market for the manufactured goods, recycling is incomplete and in

fact only "collection" (The League of Women Voters, 1993).

Many economists favor a moderate level of government intervention to provide recycling

services. Economists of this mindset probably view product disposal as an externality of

production and subsequently argue government is most capable of alleviating such a

dilemma.

Incentive for recycling and reuse: Policy instruments that decrease the relative cost of

recycling and reuse or mandate recycling requirements will tend to direct waste toward

recycling and reuse and away from landfill or other dumping. The cost of recycling to

disposers includes both the monetary price paid for recycling services and a potential time

cost, such as the time cost incurred in sorting household recyclables. Increases in recycling

opportunities can lower the time cost. Costs to recycling firms themselves are similar in that

if the variable costs of recycling are reduced, recycling services can be feasibly provided at

lower cost (Yoder et al, 2011).

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2.7 Waste Characterization

Municipal solid wastes (MSW) is often described as the waste that is produced from

residential and industrial (non-process wastes), commercial and institutional sources with the

exception of hazardous and universal wastes, construction and demolition wastes, and liquid

wastes (water, wastewater, industrial processes) (Tchobanoglous et al, 2002).

Table 2.1 Waste streams classified by source

Source Facilities, activities, or Types of solid wastes

locations where wastes are

generated

Residential Single-family and Food wastes, paper,

multifamily dwellings; low-, cardboard, plastics, textiles,

medium, and high-density yard wastes, wood, ashes,

apartments. Can be included street leaves, special wastes

in IC&I sector (including bulky items,

consumer electronics, white

goods, universal waste) and

household hazardous waste.

Commercial Stores, restaurants, markets, Paper, cardboard, plastics,

office buildings, hotels, wood, food wastes, glass,

motels, print shops, service metal wastes, ashes, special

stations, auto repair shops. wastes, hazardous wastes

Institutional Schools, universities, Same as commercial, plus

hospitals, prisons, biomedical

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 governmental centres

Industrial (non-process Construction, fabrication, Same as commercial

wastes) light and heavy

manufacturing, refineries,

chemical plants, power

plants, demolition

Municipal Solid waste All of the preceding All of the preceding

Construction and Demolition New construction sites, road Wood, steel, concrete,

repair, renovation sites, asphalt paving, asphalt

razing of buildings, broken roofing, gypsum board, rocks

pavement and soils.

Industrial Construction, fabrication, Same as commercial, plus

light and heavy industrial process wastes,

manufacturing, refineries, scrap materials

chemical plants, power

plants, demolition

Agricultural Field and row crops, Spoiled food, agricultural

orchards, vineyards, dairies, waste, hazardous waste

feedlots, farms

(Source: Adopted from Tchobanoglous et al, 2002).

17
2.7.1 Various Types of Wastes and their Various Recycling Potentials

Table 2.2 Waste Types and Recycling Potentials

Type of waste Recycled Product Recycling Potential

Biomass Composts Future of compost depends

on its environmental and

agronomic quality and the

dynamism of its market.

Paper and cardboard Recovered paper (recycled Increasing demand in Asia,

paper) particularly in People

Republic of China.

Plastics Recovered plastics Increasingly stringent

regulations and growing

demand for recovered plastics

in Asia, favoring

development and

internationalization of this

market. Cost of collection

system and volatile prices are

limiting factors.

Ferrous Metals Steel In 2004, world production of

scrap metal rose to 450Mt

and consumption reached

405.5Mt. Can be recovered

from MSW, construction

18
 waste, etc.

E-wastes Recoverable materials Estimated that 10million

computers contain 135,000

metric tons of recoverable

materials, such as base

metals, silicon, glass, plastic,

and precious metals.

Source: Adopted from The League of Women Voters, 1993.

Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and

electronics. Although similar in effect, the composting or other reuse of biodegradable waste

such as food or garden waste is not typically considered recycling. Materials to be recycled

are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned,

and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing (The League of Women Voters,

1993).

In the strictest sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of the same

material for example; used office paper would be converted into new office paper, or used

foamed polystyrene into new polystyrene. However, this is often difficult or too expensive

(compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so

"recycling" of many products or materials involve their reuse in producing different materials

(e.g., paperboard) instead (Al-Salem et al, 2009).

Al-Salem and company,2009 further asserts that another form of recycling is the salvage of

certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (for example, lead

from car batteries, or gold from computer components), or due to their hazardous nature (for

example, removal and reuse of mercury from various items). However critics dispute the net

19
economic and environmental benefits of recycling over its costs, and suggest that proponents

of recycling often make matters worse and suffer from confirmation bias.

Specifically, critics argue that the costs and energy used in collection and transportation

detract from (and outweigh) the costs and energy saved in the production process; also that

the jobs produced by the recycling industry can be a poor trade for the jobs lost in logging,

mining, and other industries associated with virgin production; and that materials such as

paper pulp can only be recycled a few times before material degradation prevents further

recycling. Proponents of recycling dispute each of these claims, and the validity of arguments

from both sides has led to enduring controversy (Al-Salem et al, 2009).

2.8. Sorting Techniques

A number of sorting techniques have been developed in order to separate and sort Plastic

Solid Waste. In the recycling industry, sorting and identification must be attempted within a

short time to positively affect a recyclers finances. Both fast and accurate identification of

the primary plastic contained in a particular item, followed by some type of manual or

automated sorting are essential. In the case of plastic bottle sorting, automated techniques do

exist but are not always applicable due mainly to a difference in shape and size, or the

existence of paint and coating which delays the analysis technique, etc. (MOEA, 2001 and

EPIC, 2003).

Another way of sorting (common in Asian recycling lines) is density sorting. Density sorting

methods are not particularly helpful, because most plastics are very close in density. In the

case of rigid PSW resulting from electronic parts, a heavy medium separation is usually

applied (Kang et al, 2005). This can be done by adding a modifier to water or by using

20
tetrabromoethane (TBE). However, this is a costly process and can lead to contamination of

the recovered plastic (Kang et al, 2005).

To enhance the effectiveness of density separation, hydrocyclones are commonly used.

Hydrocyclones, which use centrifugal force, enhance material wettability. Some of the factors

affecting liquid separation of a given material are its wettability, its variation in density (from

porosity, fillers, pigments, etc.), shape factors of size-reduced particles, and its level of

liberation from other materials. Even surface air bubbles, which can attach to plastics as the

result of poor wetting or surface contamination, can cause an individual flake of material to

float in a solution less dense than that of bulk material (APC, 1999).

A practical way of PSW sorting is by triboelectric separation, which can distinguish between

two resins by simply rubbing them against each other. A triboelectric separator sorts

materials on the basis of a surface charge transfer phenomenon. When materials are rubbed

against each other, one material becomes positively charged, and the other becomes

negatively charged or remains neutral. Particles are mixed and contact one another in a

rotating drum to allow charging. Materials with a particle size of approximately 24 mm

were the highest in both purity and recovery in the triboelectric process (Xiao et al., 1999).

PSW can also be sorted by a speed accelerator technique, developed by Result Technology

AG (Switzerland). This technique uses a high-speed accelerator to delaminate shredded

waste, and the delaminated material is separated by air classification, sieves, and

electrostatics (Kang et al, 2005). Using X-ray fluorescent (XRF) spectroscopy, different types

of flame-retardants (FRs) can be identified. On this basis, MBA Polymers, Inc. has developed

a technology that can separate pure resin with FRs (APC, 2003). The same company has also

announced a joint venture with European Metal Recycling Limited (EMR), to establish a

plastic recovering plant from shredded PSW (Al-Salem et al, 2009).

21
No matter how efficient the recycling scheme is, sorting is the most important step in the

recycling loop. One of the main issues that recyclers face is the removal of the paint on

plastics. Properties of recycled plastics can be compromised because of stress concentration

created by these coating materials (Kang et al, 2005).

Grinding could be used to remove coatings, e.g. chrome from plated plastics can be removed

by simple grinding, sometimes assisted with cryogenic methods to enhance the liberation

process and to prevent the plating materials from being embedded in the plastic granules.

These cryogenic methods provide good liberation, but the actual separation of plastic

particles from the paint is problematic (Biddle, 1999). Another way of paint and coating

removal is abrasion, best applied on whole parts of significant size. Solvent stripping is also

used by recyclers, which involves the dipping of the coated plastic into a solvent, liberating

coatings from the plastic. This method is applicable for compact disc coating removal

(Biddle, 1999).

The high temperature aqueous-based paint removal method relies on the hydrolysis of many

coatings in hot water, thus liberating the coating from the plastic. Olefin based plastics can be

handled with this technique due to the fact that this type of plastics cannot be degraded under

these conditions (Plastic Technology, 1994). Nevertheless, none of these techniques are

completely satisfactory and they require that processing conditions be carefully controlled.

Furthermore, degradation (mainly photo-oxidative) during these processes decreases the

resale value of these recycle products (Al-Salem et al, 2009).

2.8.1. Primary Recycling in Plastics Solid Waste (PSW)

Primary recycling, better known as re-extrusion, is the re-introduction of scrap, industrial or

single-polymer plastic edges and parts to the extrusion cycle in order to produce products of

22
the similar material. This process utilizes scrap plastics that have similar features to the

original products (Al-Salem, 2009a). Primary recycling is only feasible with semi-clean

scrap, therefore making it an unpopular choice with recyclers. A valid example of primary

recycling is the injection molding of out of specification LDPE crates (Barlow, 2008). Crates

that do not meet the specifications are palletized and reintroduced into the recycling loop or

the final stages of the manufacturing (Al-Salem et al, 2009).

Currently, most of the Plastic Solid Waste (PSW) being recycled is of process scrap from

industry recycled via primary recycling techniques. In the UK, process scrap represents

250,000 tonnes of the plastic waste and approximately 95% of it is primary recycled (Parfitt,

2002). Primary recycling can also involve the re-extrusion of post-consumer plastics.

Generally, households are the main source of such waste stream. However, recycling

household waste represents a number of challenges, namely the need of selective and

segregated collection. Kerbside systems are required to collect relatively small quantities of

mixed PSW from a large number of sources. This poses a resource drain and involves

significant operating costs in many countries, especially considering the current market

situation. Taking into account current market prices for virgin resins, a 0.45$ is the return on

average from every converted kg of polyolefin (EEC, 2009).

2.8.2. Mechanical Recycling

Mechanical recycling, also known as secondary recycling, is the process of recovering plastic

solid waste (PSW) for the re-use in manufacturing plastic products via mechanical means

(Mastellone, 1999). It was promoted and commercialized all over the world back in the

1970s. Mechanical recycling of PSW can only be performed on single-polymer plastic, The

23
more complex and contaminated the waste, the more difficult it is to recycle it mechanically

(Mastellone, 1999)

Separation, washing and preparation of PSW are all essential to produce high quality, clear,

clean and homogenous end-products. One of the main issues that face mechanical recyclers is

the degradation and heterogeneity of PSW. Since chemical reactions that constitute polymer

formation (i.e. polymer addition, polymerization and poly condensation) are all reversible in

theory, energy or heat supply can cause photo-oxidation and/or mechanical stresses which

occur as a consequence. Length or branching of polymer chains can also occur from the

formation of oxidised compounds and/or harsh natural weathering conditions (Basfar et al,

2006 and Al-Salem, 2009b).

Due to the previously stated reasons, it is very important to have a customer ready to

purchase the product to achieve a sensible economical and environmental practice.

Nevertheless, mechanical recycling opens an economic and viable route for PSW recovery,

especially for the case of foams and rigid plastics (Zia et al., 2007).

A number of products found in our daily lives come from mechanical recycling processes,

such as grocery bags, pipes, gutters, window and door profiles, shutters and blinds, etc. The

quality is the main issue when dealing with mechanically recycled products. The industrial

PSW generated in manufacturing, processing, and distribution of plastic products is well

suited for the use as a raw material for mechanical recycling due to the clear separation of

different types of resins, the low level of dirt and impurities present, and their availability in

large quantities (Al-Salem et al, 2009).

24
2.8.3 Plants and Technologies applied in Mechanical Recycling

Recycling PSW via mechanical means involves a number of treatments and preparation steps

to be considered. Being a costly and an energy intense process, mechanical recyclers try to

reduce these steps and working hours as much as possible. Generally, the first step in

mechanical recycling involves size reduction of the plastic to a more suitable form (pellets,

powder or flakes). This is usually achieved by milling, grinding or shredding (Zia et al.,

2007).

The most general scheme was described by Aznar et al. (2006) and is illustrated in Fig. 2

below, The steps involved are usually the following (Aznar et al., 2006).

Cutting/shredding: Large plastic parts are cut by shear or saw for further processing

into chopped small flakes.

Contaminant separation: Paper, dust and other forms of impurities are separated

from plastic usually in a cyclone.

Floating: Different types of plastic flakes are separated in a floating tank according to

their density.

Milling: Separate, single-polymer plastics are milled together. This step is usually

taken as a first step with many recyclers around the world.

Washing and drying: This step refers to the pre-washing stage (beginning of the

washing line). The actual plastic washing process occurs afterwards if further

treatment is required. Both washing stages are executed with water. Chemical

washing is also employed in certain cases (mainly for glue removal from plastic),

where caustic soda and surfactants are used.

Agglutination: The product is gathered and collected either to be stored and sold later

on after the addition of pigments and additives, or sent for further processing.

25
 Extrusion: The plastic is extruded to strands and then pelletized to produce a single-

polymer plastic.

Quenching: Involves water-cooling the plastic by water to be granulated and sold as a

final product.

Figure.2.1 Mechanical recycling steps.

Source: Adopted from Aznar et al. (2006).

Other single-polymer PSW go through different schemes. Many foams (namely polyurethane,

PU) are powdered and grinded to a particle size less than 0.2 mm using two-roll milling,

cryogenic grinders or precision knife cutters (Aznar et al, 2006). Another process used in

mechanical recycling is re-bonding, in which recycled foam flakes originating from flexible

slab stock foam production waste are usually blown from storage silos into a mixer that

consists of a fixed drum with rotating blades or agitators, where the foam flakes are sprayed

with an adhesive mixture (Zia et al., 2007). Fig. below shows a schematic illustration of the

re-bonding process. One of the main advantages of this process is the ability to obtain a clean

product with new properties that is higher density and lower hardness.

26
Figure.2.2. Schematic of flexible foam re-bonding

Source: Adopted from Zia et al. (2007).

In the case of PU, 10% binder is added to the 90% scrap. Waste is shredded and mixed with

binder (dyes can also be added) and the mixture is then compressed. PU recyclate granules

are used as filler in polyester moulding compounds and give added toughness to the material.

This process yields a variety of products such as carpet underlay and athletic mats from

recovered pieces of flexible foams. The re-bond process incorporates both a surprising

amount of flexibility and a wide variability in the mechanical properties of the final product.

PVC represents an interesting case too, in terms of mechanical recycling (Al-Salem et al,

2009).

Due to its structure and composition, PVC can easily be mechanically recycled in order to

obtain good quality recycling material. Careful and proper sorting is of crucial importance for

the optimal recycling of PVC. After an initial visual check, the collected PVC materials are

shredded into pieces of 1015 cm. The metals and non-ferrous metals are mechanically

eliminated afterwards (Recovinyl, 2008). The company classifies the post-consumer plastics

27
into rigid and flexible material. Rigid PVC recycled material is mainly used as an inner

reinforcement layer in pipes and profiles production, garden furniture or rigid films

manufacture. Flexible PVC waste is recycled into powder and is used as filler in the

production of floor coverings of various kinds. Other applications are traffic cones, fences,

flexible hoses and tubes, footwear, bags, clothing, etc. (Recovinyl, 2008).

A valid example of utilizing PSW is the recycling of PET. About three-quarter of reclaimed

PET in the UK and USA is used to manufacture fibres for carpets, apparel and bottles. Two

approaches have been widely promoted, mechanical recycling and methanolysis (chemical

recycling). Once the PET has been collected and sorted, it represents a feedstock for

reclamation processing lines. Reclamation involves washing the materials (mainly bottles)

and conditioning the plastics to be processed as semi-virgin resin or master batch. In doing

so, a clear grade of PET can be produced of high quality to compete with the virgin polymer.

This technique is practiced widely in the EU and USA (Recovinyl, 2008)

In Tokyo (Japan), a council for PET bottle recycling has been established since 1993 to

promote mechanical recycling of PET bottles in the municipalities of Tokyo (Council PET,

2005). PET bottles obtained by household sorting are collected, compressed and packed by

municipalities for transportation to recycling plants operated by recycling industries. At the

recycling plant, the waste is selected to remove impurities and the remaining PET bottles are

then shredded, cleaned, foreign bodies and non-resins separated, and the remainder turned

into flakes and pellets (granules made of flakes thermally processed by granulator) for

recycling. The recycled materials are then sent to textile and sheet-making plants, where they

are again molten to produce textile and sheet products by resin moulding techniques well

established for PET and other plastics conversion (Council PET, 2005).

28
2.9. Signage and Labelling

Signage is a critical component to waste management systems. Signage helps inform the

public about what materials are acceptable for recycling and which are not and it can also

encourage participation in recycling programs (UC Davis, 2008). In Nova Scotia, educational

efforts are carried out at the provincial level by the Resource Recovery Fund Board (RRFB),

and at the municipal level. The RRFB has created a signage system (Figure 4 below) that

relies on both colours and shapes to educate the public on sorting waste into proper waste

streams (RRFB, 2010)

Figure 2.3: The colour coding, signage, and bin opening types.

It is also possible for municipalities to create their own by-laws regarding signage (see figure

below). In Halifax Regional Municipality(HRM), by-law S-600 states that signage of

sufficient size and number is required to provide occupants (customers or employees) with

clear instructions for proper sorting of waste into its proper waste streams (HRM, 2010).

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), 2010 asserts that certain signs with less text

29
description may be better suited for more public spaces/higher traffic areas where people are

less likely to read text and will make a source separation decision quickly while other signs

(HRM) may be better suited for public areas that are contained and where staff have time to

read the signs, as shown in figure 5 below.

Figure 2.4: Signage and colour coding

Source: HRM, 2010

30
 CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Description of the Study Area

Gweru is a city near the centre of Zimbabwe at 19o251S 29O501E, Gweru is the capital of the

Midlands Province, with a population of about 157 865(ZIMSTATS, 2012). Initially

established as a military outpost, the modern town was founded in 1894 by Dr Leander Starr

Jameson. It is situated along the road and railway between Harare and Bulawayo and near the

rail spur to Maputo, Mozambique, Gweru has become a busy trade centre with some

industrial development, its thriving industrial, commercial, agricultural and educational

centre with all the modern amenities that one could expect (Mubaiwa, 2008).

Gweru is one of Zimbabwes main import and export centre as well as being the most

accessible industrial centre to overseas markets through South Africa to the South and

Mozambique to the east. Its products include ferrochromium, textiles, dairy foods, foot ware

and building materials and the surroundings have rich mineral deposits (Mubaiwa, 2008).

3.2 Research Design

The research strategy that is used of descriptive survey research design, in principle are

verifiable, the ethical, practical, and often the only way of gathering most information on

behaviour, attitudes, beliefs, and opinions most efficiently is through asking individuals

31
through survey research. The research was mostly qualitative in mature although a

quantitative analysis approach was employed in the analysis of recyclable waste quantities.

Survey research strategy was used because it provides a wide and inclusive coverage of

people or events so that the results are likely to be representative of the population, and it is

ideal for generalising conclusion. Furthermore survey design was used so as to produce the

needed data in a short time.

3.3 Sampling technique

Sampling is a mechanism for selecting objects, subjects or respondents to represent a whole

group. It was ideal to sample for data collection in this project so as to get a representative

sample since using the whole population in the study was not feasible, due to various factors

such as time, cost, and manageability.

The sample frame used was based on the registered business entities obtained from the

Gweru City Council (Health Services Department) and consists of the servicing,

manufacturing, and processing organisations in and around the with a total population of

1418. According to the data obtained from Gweru city Council, Health Services Department,

the researcher used 6% of the registered organisations in the city so as to have a manageable

sample size. The study used the non-probabilistic sampling technique of convenience

sampling, whereby the sample was selected on the basis of the availability of elements

chosen based on researchers convenience and the willingness of the respondents to

participate.

The non-probabilistic sampling technique of convenient sampling was necessary, since each

respondent might have given information unique to the organisation being represented.

32
Table 3.1 Sampling criteria.

Heavy Light Food Non-food Commercial Gvt &

Industries Industries Outlets outlets Premises Local

Authorities

Premises

Registered 36 76 42 226 1016 22

Premises

Sample 15 15 15 15 15 15

size

3.4 Data Generation Strategy

Primary data were collected for this research. The method employed for the data collection is

both quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative is mainly concerned with the collection

and analysis of numerical data and statistics while qualitative is much more focused on

questionnaires.

3.4.1 Questionnaires

A questionnaire is defined as a pre-defined set of questions assembled in a pre-determined

order and respondents are asked to answer the question which provides the researcher with

data that can be analysed. Using a sample size of n=90, self-administered questionnaires with

open and closed ended questions were distributed to the various organisations under study,

where the respondents filled in the questionnaire in the presence of the researcher.

Questionnaires have the advantage that they can generate a lot of information in a cost-

effective way. There are no special skills required on the part of the researcher when using a

33
questionnaire for data collection purposes. The disadvantages however are that there is no

way of proving the validity of the data provided by the respondents, hence there is a heavy

reliance on the truthfulness of the respondents, in some cases, not all questions in the

questionnaire will be answered by the respondents, due to failure to understand the needs of

the question.

The survey used the researcher administered questionnaires so as to minimize interference

within the respondents and in order to yield the best results. The questionnaire involved

questions on waste generation by the various organisation and how the waste is handled,

secondly attitudes, behaviours and perceptions were tested as ell as the willingness to

participate in the recycling of solid waste.

3.5 Characterization of Waste

Two methods were employed for solid waste characterization, a combination of visual and

hand sorting characterization of samples from the generators. Visual characterization of

samples was found ideal for wastes that are nearly homogenous, here hand sorting was found

unnecessary to characterize waste streams.

3.6 Data Analysis

The qualitative data collected from various organisations was computed and processed to

obtain graphical representations. Microsoft Excel was used for statistical analysis.

Presentations were aided by pie charts and different types of graphs. Pie Charts, Graphs and

Tables were also used to display the results, so as to help the researcher to understand and

interpret what could be deduced from them. With such data the researcher was able to get an

34
insight of how waste is being handled as well as to identify the potential of recycling waste

material that exist as well as identify the waste materials that could be recycled.

3.6.1 Method for Quantitative Data Analysis

Quantitative data was obtained for materials that were currently being reused and recycled as

well as quantifying materials that could be potentially recycled. The procedure was based on

the UNEP, (2009) method adapted from Developing Integrated Solid Waste Management

Plan, Training Manual Volume 1. This information helped the researcher to analyse the

reuse and the recycling potential by assessing the feasibility of the solid waste management

strategy, as well as assess behaviours and perceptions on solid waste reuse and recycling.

3.6.2 Quantification of Waste

Waste quantification was done at the point of generation; quantity of waste was measured in

terms of volume.

Procedure

Extrapolate the volume of waste disposed using each waste container being used at

each generator

Volume container, month= Volume container, measured * Generation time monthly

Generation time measured

Add together the extrapolated volume of waste disposed in all containers that handle

waste belonging to the same waste stream at the location.

Volume site, monthly = Volume container, monthly.

35
 Calculate the density of the waste at the generator location, based on data from the

waste sample

Density site = Weight sample

Volume sample.

3.7 Limitations to the Research Methodology

The study is most likely to be liable to sampling bias due to the possibility of language

barrier, personal view of the respondents representing the various organisations. Furthermore,

the selected places for data collection might not be representative of the general overview of

solid waste recycling potential in the city of Gweru due to the type of the sampling technique

used, convenience sampling technique, hence there is the possibility of over-representation or

under representation of the data generated.

The approximated quantities of recyclable waste might result in over-representation or under

representation of the data generated as well.

36
 CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS

4.1 Total Response to the Study

The study had a 100% response rate due to the study criteria chosen of self-administered

questionnaires. The respondents were given the opportunity to respond to the questions while

being monitored hence there was no loss of questionnaires. All the ninety questionnaires

given out were respondent to, from the ninety organisations represented. The respondents

were representatives of the different organisation. It is assumed that the responses given by

the respondents are a true reflection of the organisations views towards solid waste recycling

and reuse. The respondents were both males and females in the managerial and production

positions.

4.2 Characteristics of Respondents

In Table 4.1 a, 56.67% of the respondents, which was also the representative of the various

organisations, were males and 43.33% of the respondents were females. The majority of

respondents were 82.22% of the respondents had done some form of tertiary education, while

17.88% of the respondents had done High School education.

37
Table 4.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents

Demographic Gender Educational Level

Characteristics Male Female Tertiary High Sch

Education Education

Survey Respondents 51 39 74 16

Percentage 56.67% 43.33% 82.22% 17.88%

4.3 Activities of the Organisations

From the sample of respondents, 23.33% (21) of the organisations are manufacturing

companies, 27.77% (25) of the organisations are service providers, and 48.88% (44) are

processing companies. Other activities were indicated to be taking place in these

organisations; however, priority was on given to the major activity as per the objectives of the

organisations.

Figure 4.1 Organisational Activities

38
4.3.1WasteStreams

40
35
Percentage (%)

30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Types of SW materials

Figure 4.2 Profile of the various waste streams

The study found out that from the entire N=90 Respondents, the major waste materials

generated were Paper/Cardboard-40%, Food waste-27.77%, Plastics-17.77%, Glass/Bottles-

5.55%, Metals-3.33%, Leather/Rubber-3.33%.

Table 4.2 Raw Data on Waste type generated per organisation

Type of Manufacturing Service Providing Processing

Organisation

Paper/Cardboard 3 23 10

Leather/Rubber 2 0 1

Plastics 8 3 5

Glass/Bottles 4 1 0

39
Metals 1 0 2

Food Waste 3 15 7

E-Waste 0 2 0

Figure 4.3 Type of Organisation and their waste streams.

From figure 4.3, Paper/Cardboard is generated in all the types of organisations represented. In

the manufacturing organisation, it has 8.3% representation, while it also has 63.88%

presentation in the Service providers and 27.77% representation in the Processing companies.

This implies that Paper/Cardboard box is evenly distributed in all the types of organisations

studied. Leather/Rubber waste is generated in three of the organisation studied, two (66.67%)

of them being the manufacturing industries, and one (33.33%) being the Processing

industries. This indicates that Leather/Rubber is not commonly manufactured/ processed in

the City of Gweru, hence only a few organisations were found to be generating this type of

waste. Furthermore, Plastics waste was found in all the three types of organisations, that is

50% plastics waste generation in the Manufacturing, 18.8% plastics waste generation in the

40
service providers, and 31.2% plastics waste generation in the processing industries. This is an

even distribution indicating that plastic waste is commonly generated in the City of Gweru.

Glass/Bottles are represented only in 5 organisations from the entire study population, which

is 80% in the manufacturing industries, and 20% representation in the service providers

companies. Scrap metals also had representation in three organisations overall, which is in

the manufacturing at 33.33% representation and in 66.67% representation in the processing

industries. This is an indication that in the city of Gweru, there are few industries that work

with metals resulting in the generation of waste scrap metal being generated.

Food waste materials are generated in the manufacturing organisations at 12%, in the service

provision at 60%, and 28% in the Processing industries. This implies that food waste,

composed of all organics including the rotten vegetables and fruits are generated in all the

three types of organisations. Finally, the E-waste is generated only in the service providers,

and from the entire study sample, only two organisations produce E-waste.

4.4 Reuse and Recycling Activities

Figure 4.4: Profile of Percentage recycling.

41
From the figure 4.5.1 above recycling of waste materials was found to be at 11.11%

percentage and non-recycling at 88.89%, of the 11.11% organisations that do solid waste

recycling, 50% recycling is done by the manufacturing companies and 10% recycling is done

by the service providers, and 40% recycling done by the processing companies.

Figure 4.4.1 Recycling profile in the different types of organisations.

Out of the 90 companies, the manufacturing companies have the highest recycling potential

followed by the processing companies and lastly the service providers, this is large due to

lack waste segregation capacity by the service providers and the processing organisations.

For waste recycling to be feasible, there is the need for solid waste sorting at source or at the

point of disposal. Sorting of solid waste is not being done by the local authority, hence the

low levels in recycling in the city. However for those that does waste recycling only the

waste being recycled mainly for beneficial reasons is sorted at source.

42
4.4.1 Sorting and Recycling Activities

Figure 4.5 Profile of the Sorting and Recycling relationship.

From the illustration in figure 4.5 above, there is 11.11% recycling and 8% sorting of solid

waste at source. Sorting of solid waste at source and at disposal point necessitates the

recycling of waste. Only the organisations that do have sorting techniques employed at their

organisations recycle waste. Exceptions are seen in two of the organisations which recycle

waste without the provision of sorting techniques. This could be due to the uniqueness of the

waste material which enables automatic segregation, such as glass bottles. Figure 4.5 also

indicates that while a 91.1% rate of non-recycling is recorded, there is also an 88.9% rate of

non-sorting; this shows a relation between sorting and recycling. A high rate of sorting is

most likely to bring about an increase the recycling rates in the City of Gweru.

43
4.4.2 Solid Waste Reuse Activities

Figure 4.6 Profile of Solid Waste Reuse.

From the illustration in figure 4.6, the city has a solid waste reuse levels of 21.11%, this

could be due to a high rate of reusable waste materials and the high increased public

education on solid waste management or the potential of business opportunities in the waste

sector. There was an increase in Service providers participation in reuse of solid waste, by

26.3%. Also in the manufacturing companies, there is 52.7% reusing, and 21% in the

processing companies.

4.5 Reused and Recycled Materials

Table 4.3: Profile of the Recycled and Reused SW Materials.

Type of Solid Waste Material Percentage Recycled (%) Percentage Reused (%)

Paper/Cardboard 30 21.05

Leather/Rubber 10 15.79

44
Plastics 20 21.05

Glass/Bottles 20 21.05

Food Waste 10 0

Metals 10 10.53

E-Waste 0 10.53

Figure 4.6.1: Profile of the Recycled and Reused SW Materials.

From the figure 4.4.2 above, Paper/Cardboard has the high percentage of recycling, at 30%,

and followed by Plastics and Glass/Bottles at 20%, also followed by Leather/Rubber, Food

Waste, and Metals at 10%. This data indicates that Paper/Cardboard, Plastics, Glass/Bottles,

Leather/Rubber, Food Waste and Scrap Metals have the recycling potential in the City of

Gweru. Furthermore, the illustration in Table 4.3 indicates that Paper/Cardboard, Plastics,

and Glass/Bottles have a 21.05% reuse potential, followed by Scrap Metals and E-waste have

10.53 reuse potential. The recycled and reused materials were from the Manufacturing

companies, at 50% and 52.63% recycling potential respectively, this is the followed by the

45
Processing firms are 40% and 21.05% respectively, and lastly Service Provider rate at 10%

and 26.32% respectively. This data is illustrated in figure 4.4.3 below.

Figure 4.6.2: Organisational recycle and Reuse potentials.

The issue of Solid Waste sorting might have contributed to this trend in solid waste reuse and

recycling as most Service providers do not have SW sorting.

4.6 Estimated Quantities of Recyclable Waste

Waste quantification was done at the point of generation; quantity of waste was measured in

terms of volume. Estimations of recyclable waste were done only from those organisations

that do waste recycling by comparing the volume of waste receptacles and the frequency of

waste disposal. By extrapolating the volume of waste disposed using each waste container

being used at each generator.

46
Table 4.4 Estimates of Recyclable waste.

Type of Waste Minimum Estimates/ Maximum Period for SW

Material m3 Estimates/m3 Collection

Paper/Cardboard 765 1255 Twice/Week

Leather/Rubber 1680 1680+ Twice/Week

Plastics 425 1340 Twice/Week

Glass/Bottles 1000 1000+ Twice/Week

Food Waste 1310 1340+ Daily

Metals 800 800+ Twice/Week

The quantities of the recyclable SW estimates in the City of Gweru indicate that

approximately 765-1255m3 of Paper/Cardboard waste in generated twice every week. From

the Table 4.5 above, there is an estimate of Leather/Rubber waste at +/- 1680m3 in at least

twice/week, and approximately 425-1340m3 of Plastics per week. Furthermore, Glass/ Bottles

are being recycled at approximately +/- 1000m3 twice per week. Food Waste is being

recycled at approximately +/- 1310m3 on a daily bases, and Scrap Metal is being recycled at

+/- 800m3 twice per week.

4.7 Attitudes and Perceptions

Out of the 90 organisations that took part in the study 63.33% had positive perceptions and

attitudes about solid waste reuse and recycling, 21.11% were average in their perceptions

about reuse and recycling of solid waste materials. While 15.56% of the respondents had

negative attitudes towards solid waste reuse and recycling.

47
 15.56%

Negative

21.11% Average
Positive
63.33%

Figure 4.7 Attitudes and Perceptions

4.8. Knowledge assessment and willingness to participate

The study revealed that 76.67% of the respondents had very good knowledge about solid

waste reuse and recycling, 20% as have only good and 3.33% of the respondents as have poor

knowledge about solid waste reuse and recycling.

80
70
60
% respondents

50
40
30
20
10
0
Very Good Good Poor
Knowledge levels

Figure 4.8 Knowledge assessment

48
 CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION

5.1 Sources of solid waste generation.

The city of Gweru is made up of a thriving industrial, commercial, agricultural and

educational centre with all the modern amenities that one could expect, and from the

study, it is seen that the both the manufacturing companies and the processing companies

as well as the service providers generate significant amounts of solid waste. However

from the sample of respondents, 23.33% (21) of the organisations are manufacturing

companies, 27.77% (25) of the organisations are service providers, and 48.88% (44) are

processing companies. The majority of the waste generated in the city came from the

manufacturing companies, followed by the service providers, and lastly from the

processing companies.

Paper/Cardboard waste was generated in all the three organisational categories, Leather/

Rubber and scrap metal was found in the manufacturing as well as in the processing

companies, Plastics and food waste was generated in all the three categories, while

glass/bottles was generated in the manufacturing as well as the service providers. E-waste

waste was only generated in organisations that provide services. This trend could be due

to the activities that the manufacturing and the processing organisations are involved in,

such as packaging.

5.2 Waste Streams

From the study, the city of Gweru generates a variety of solid waste materials, of which

the study found out that from the entire (n=90) respondents, the major waste materials

49
generated were Paper/Cardboard-40%, Food waste-27.77%, Plastics-17.77%,

Glass/Bottles-5.55%, Metals-3.33%, Leather/Rubber-3.33%, as well as other waste

materials which were not recorded in the study. Jenifer (2007) stated that knowing the

variety in the waste assists a person to know the equipment they require to transport their

waste and to determine the management programmes and plans needed. The variety in

waste types is due to the existing diversity of organisational activities. Paper/Cardboard

has the highest composition at 40% since packaging, and the use of books and paper is

common in all the various types of organisations.

The UNEP (2005b) suggests that rigorous, scientifically performed studies of waste

quantities are necessary to properly design, operate, and monitor solid waste management

systems. This is also true in designing, operating, and monitoring waste reduction

systems. Measuring the waste stream will identify waste components with the greatest

diversion potential and the quantity of material that will supply the materials-market.

Additionally, accurate and up-to-date waste characterization information will benefit the

effort by the government to reduce waste by incorporating the study findings into

educational campaigns and policy initiatives, such as recycling and reuse projects. For

recycling and reuse of solid waste materials to be considered in any nation, there should

be a waste inventory which will be used in order to assess the recycling and the reuse

potential.

5.3 The Recycling and Reuse Potential

The type of waste materials that are generated in the city of Gweru and their recycling

levels indicate a latent quality and ability that they can be developed into the future

success of the recycling projects and giving a useful method for solid waste management.

The study showed 11.11% recycling levels, and the city has a solid waste reuse rate of

50
21.11%. The study shows that Paper/Cardboard has the high percentage of recycling, at

30%, and followed by Plastics and Glass/Bottles at 20%, also followed by

Leather/Rubber, Food Waste, and Metals at 10%. This data indicates that

Paper/Cardboard, Plastics, Glass/Bottles, Leather/Rubber, Food Waste and Scrap Metals

have the recycling potential in the City of Gweru. Paper/Cardboard, Plastics, and

Glass/Bottles have a 21.05% reuse rate, followed by Scrap Metals and E-waste have

10.53% reuse rate. The recycled and reused materials were from the Manufacturing

companies, at 50% and 52.63% recycling potential respectively, this is the followed by

the Processing firms are 40% and 21.05% respectively, and lastly Service Provider rate

at 10% and 26.32% respectively.

The study showed that 8% sorting rate of solid waste was done. This indicates that given

the necessary solid waste receptacles the sorting of recyclables may be done at the source

for selective collection by the municipality or to be dropped off by the waste producer at a

recycling centres. The other alternative will be to mix the recyclables with the general

waste stream for collection and then sorting and recovery of the recyclable materials can

be performed by the municipality at a suitable site. The sorting of solid waste also enables

the recycling and reuse of a variety of waste materials. Kang and colleagues (2005)

pointed out that no matter how efficient the recycling scheme is; sorting is the most

important step in the recycling loop. The data from this study also illustrate that a lot of

recyclable waste materials could be directed from landfilling through recycling and reuse

activities. Reuse of waste delays the need for production of new materials and reduces the

amount of waste requiring treatment and disposal.

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5.4 Attitudes and Perceptions in SWM.

The handling of solid waste is subject to the cultural-cognitive state of the people

involving their beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act towards solid waste,

their choice of materials to be consumed, their interest in reusing, separation, recycling

and the level to which they put an end to indiscriminate littering and dumping of solid

waste in their cities (Jennifer, 2007). Peoples attitudes have an effect upon the demand

for efficient solid waste collection services; that is taken to mean their willingness to pay

for collection services. Indications from the study are that 63.33% of the respondents had

positive attitudes towards solid waste reuse and recycling, while only 21.11% were

average, and 15.56% had negative perceptions on solid waste reuse and recycling.

Attitudes toward effective solid waste handling may be fine-tuned through education and

awareness campaigns on the consequences of poorly managed solid waste with regard to

reuse, recycling, public health and environmental conditions required to enlighten the

people about their responsibilities as waste generators and of their rights to manage the

waste generated. 75.6% of the study respondents believe that public education about

proper garbage management is one way to fix the garbage crisis.

5.5 Knowledge and Willingness to Participate in SWM.

The study revealed that 76.67% of the respondents had very good knowledge about solid

waste reuse and recycling, 20% as have only good and 3.33% of the respondents as

having poor knowledge about solid waste reuse and recycling. Knowledge about solid

waste reuse and recycling can drive people and organisations to work towards attaining it,

given that the benefits have also been understood.

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All the organisations under study indicated willingness participate in separating their

waste materials into separate bags for collection purposes, given that a recycling program

was set up, that collected materials like plastic, paper, metals, e.tc, this willingness to

participate could either be motivated due to the usual procedures which most

organisations do, of gathering their waste materials before the final collection by the

municipality, hence no extra costs may be incurred in the process through hiring of labour

force. This is seen in the reduction in response rate when required to pay for pickup of the

recycling materials from the organisation premises.

Where there are incentives for separating, collection, and returning of waste materials to

the manufacturer, a 100% willingness to participate was recorded, for example given that

respondents were paid for every plastic bottle, or packaging material that they returned to

the supplier, most would participate in a program to return the plastic bottles or packaging

materials. This indicates that if given that incentives are always provided; solid waste

recycling can improve from the 11.11% which is currently recorded from the study to

even higher levels.

Yoder et al, (2011) agues that collected recyclables may be marketed and sold as recycled

inputs to production. Though collected recyclables vary widely in their resale value based

on their type of material and the availability and price of substitute materials; the market

value of recyclables often depends in part on the market value of substitute goods. In the

case of aluminium, the virgin resource requires much more energy to access and convert

and is therefore expensive. Recyclable materials therefore command a higher market

price relative to recycling costs. Materials that can physically be collected, transported

and processed more easily also typically fetch a greater resale value than materials that

are more difficult to recycle.

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Furthermore, the study results indicate a 57.8% positive response rate on willingness to

carry solid waste generated to a facility for recycling solid waste given that its located in

their community, this could either be due to greater dependability in municipal services in

solid waste management. However, the study revealed >90% willingness to participate in

building the recycling facility for the community, and the willingness to participate in the

maintenance of the facility, this trend could be due to anticipations of incentives in the

long term.

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 CHAPTER SIX

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Conclusion

The study indicates that there is a recycling and reuse potential of municipal solid waste in

the city of Gweru, however, it is still in its infant stages and there is much potential still

untapped in the recycling industry, as there are only a few organisations which do reuse and

recycling of solid waste. To enhance the recycling programs in the city of Gweru, the local

authority will have to intervene through provision of adequate and necessary infrastructure

and incentives which will encourage recycling and reuse of solid waste hence diverting the

huge amounts of valuable materials which is normally taken to the landfill as waste. The

recycling of solid waste in the city of Gweru may also result in reduced environmental

degradation, and pollution, as the waste material which are normally non-biodegradable are

used for longer periods before final disposal, which can be done at lower rate due to the

recycling option.

Most organisations in the city of Gweru are well knowledgeable about the concept of solid

waste reuse and recycling, however, the lack of infrastructure and lack of budget allocations

in solid waste recycling has led most organisations not to have sorting options which can

further enhance the feasibility of solid waste reuse and recycling. Willingness to participate in

solid waste reuse and recycling was only found to be connected to immediate and realisable

benefits. A higher dependency of the organisations on the municipality for solid waste

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management services has resulted in their reluctance to budget towards reuse and recycling

activities which have limited revenue base.

Numerous items of legislation, regulations, and policies for solid-waste management have

been issued in the country. However, law compliance is low due to the lack of stringent

enforcement. Currently, there are many types of waste-management practices that have been

implemented, such as land disposal management, on-site disposal/long-term storage

management, and reuse and recycling. These practices have not had a significant effect due to

the lack of treatment facilities, poor housekeeping, and the non-separation of waste.

Therefore, pollution by solid waste is still a problem to be addressed and remedial measures

have already been identified; only the implementation still needs to be encouraged in order to

fully harness the potential thereof.

6.2 Recommendations

For the city of Gweru to fully exploit its potentials in solid waste reuse and recycling, I could

recommend the following recommendations:

Local Authority should play a leading role is Solid Waste Management, by

developing a comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan which is consistent with

the National Solid Waste Management Framework/Plan reviewable after every 5-10

years, the Plan should emphasise the reuse and recycling of waste generated in the

city of Gweru.

The SWM Plan should include a program and implementation schedule indicating the

methods and strategies for achieving solid waste reuse and recycling. The Plan should

also cover on-site handling, storage, processing, transfer and transport of waste for

reuse and recycling purposes.

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 The Local Authority should establish a material-recovery facility (MRF), as well as

providing an efficient waste collection system through provision of colour-coded bins;

which will encourage waste generators to practice waste sorting. The Municipal

Council may direct households, shops and establishments not to mix recyclable waste

with domestic and other biodegradable waste, and instead they should use separate

bins/bags for waste storage.

The Local Authority should work towards the development of a sustainable funding

mechanism sufficient to pay the cost preparing, adopting and implanting an SWM

Plan. There should be the development of procedures, standards, and strategies for

promoting the use of recyclable materials and local markets for recycled goods.

Long term incentives to the local, national and export traders of recyclable materials,

by funding ways to export recyclables by studying export markets and trade

conventions, By-product synergies should also be encouraged between organisations.

The Central Government, as well as the Local Authority should encourage the

formulation of Private and State-owned Enterprises working on the collection,

transportation, and treatment of solid waste for recycling, through the application of

favourable financial policies and provision of support from the government budget to

solid waste treatment and recycling. Such favourable financial policies include the use

of tax rebates. Finances towards solid waste recycling can come from implementation

of pollution-fee system.

The Municipality should have a polluter-pays principle and a compulsory tax on

SWM, which will function as a capital incentive for SWM alternatives (reuse and

recycling).

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 A computer database system on solid waste generators should be developed by the

Local Authority, which states the type of waste materials generated and the location

of the companies so as to encourage waste trading among the waste generators.

The Local Authority should develop a waste-audit scheme, such that through this

scheme, the areas of improvement and major sources of solid waste can be identified,

and based on the findings, options will then be generated to minimise the quantities of

waste produced.

The government and the Local Authority should review the existing solid waste

regulations and laws; they should develop regulations and laws that encourage the

reuse and recycling of waste materials and not just the proper handling and disposal

methods of solid waste as is the case with the current laws. The review of the existing

regulations should remedy the weakness of lack of proper guidelines on how the

private sector can operate with the Council in providing effective Solid Waste

Management. For a recycling program to work, having a large, stable supply of

recyclable material is crucial. Three legislative options have been used in some

developed countries used to create such a supply: mandatory recycling collection,

container deposit legislation, and refuse bans. Mandatory collection laws set recycling

targets for cities to aim for, usually in the form that a certain percentage of a material

must be diverted from the city's waste stream by a target date.

The existing laws should be reviewed such that they remove the idea that these laws

were not meant for profit making bodies, but for the protection of the environment

within which business ventures of different kinds are conducted, while it can be

observed that given the needed incentives, organisations can make profit from SWM

operations, such as recycling. The laws should be enforceable such that any offenders

should be penalised and fined for violations, depending on the degree of offence. All

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 revenues from the implementation of the law accrues to SWM funds (both at national

and local level) earmarked to support research and development, provide awards and

incentives, provide technical assistance, and conducting of trainings, education,

communication, and monitoring of the recycling activities.

Reusing and Recycling practices can be promoted through awareness programs that

can be administered through a variety of tools such as booklets, posters, newsletters,

technical manuals, and videos containing the information on reuse and recycling of

solid waste and the incentives that are accrued to such activities.

Local Authorities should encourage Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and

Community Based Organisations (CBOs), to take part in solid waste recycling

activities, by providing them with the necessary information and technical assistance

on SW recycling as well as solicit funds towards improving solid waste recycling

infrastructure.

There is need for the community and organisations to develop animal feeding

programs that will enable the reuse of food waste, In-order to be able to reuse food

waste, feeding of domestic animals, such as pigs and dogs should be adopted.

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