Youth Against Plastic Pollution (YAPP)

Intervention

Social or environmental challenge

Plastic pollution affects the right to a clean and health environment guaranteed by the Constitution. It alters habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems’ ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting people’s livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being. Zimbabwe per annum generates approximately 342 000 tonnes of plastic waste, which is about 18 % of the total waste in Zimbabwe largely in the form of Low-Density Polythene (LDPE); High Density Polythene (HDPE); Polyethylene Terephthalate; Poly vinyl chloride and Polypropylene. Over 10 000 of plastics are imported annually while the rest are generated locally. Compounding the situation, local authorities in Zimbabwe are unable to provide sustainable refuse collection services due to constrained budgets resulting in refuse dumps, Zimbabwe lacks engineered sanitary facilities for the disposal of waste and there are no regulatory frameworks addressing plastic pollution.

Description of the intervention

The project envisions addressing the plastic pollution crisis in Zimbabwe by implementing catalytic actions at the local authority level within the Harare City Council, the biggest local authority in Zimbabwe. The projects objectives include: strengthened ability of Harare City local authority to undertake concrete actions to tackle plastic pollution and strengthened ability of residents to make informed decisions concerning waste management. The envisioned outcomes are: (1) institutional strengthening and capacity development of Harare local authority to support regulatory frameworks addressing Plastic Pollution and (2) improved plastic waste management practices adopted by the Harare Local Authority, and reduction in carbon emissions related to plastic pollution. The project will address the challenge by cutting emissions through reduced production of new plastics, eliminate already existing plastic waste through the five R’s of waste management (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle), promote responsible production and consumption by plastic production and manufacturing industries, and reduce loss and damage linked to plastic pollution. The project is seen as a pilot, with potential for replication within other local authorities located in Zimbabwe. Key activities will include production of white policy papers, waste management simulations/challenges, institutional strengthening of local authority and stakeholder consultations.

Last data update

Data for this pipeline project was last updated in August 2023