Assessment of the Current Status of the Circular Economy in the Waste Sector for Developing a Waste Stream-Specific Roadmap in Zimbabwe
The transition from a linear to a circular economy is crucial for resource efficiency and material value preservation. In this context, Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry, in collaboration with The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), supported by Sustainable Inclusive Business (SIB-K) under the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), and funded by Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN), assessed the circular economy in Zimbabwe’s waste sector. This assessment, focusing on organic and inorganic domestic waste, provided valuable insights for the development of a waste stream-specific circular economy roadmap for climate change. The findings of this study have significantly aided Zimbabwe in designing a waste stream roadmap, which will play a pivotal role in addressing the identified challenges in the waste management subsector.
Project Objectives
The primary objective of the project was to develop a national waste stream roadmap. A key component of this roadmap was the development of a pilot project, which aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of a more circular waste management system in a real-world setting.
Specific objectives:
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- Assess the status quo of waste management practices for the six waste streams (plastics, metals, glass, paper, household waste, agricultural waste), identifying and developing an up-to-date guide to key stakeholders, existing public and private sector initiatives, and policies and insights in waste generation and processing.
- Identify potential opportunities and barriers to shifting to a more circular waste management system for each waste stream.
- Select a prioritized waste stream with the highest potential for transition to a more circular management system.
- Developing a detailed strategic national roadmap for the selected waste stream is a management tool for the implementation phase aimed at creating new businesses, innovation, and technology transfer.
- The conceptualization of a pilot project will include potential benefits in economic, social, institutional, and environmental terms.
Target Groups & Impact
Target Group(s): The target groups were the Zimbabwe national Government, Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry, government agencies, waste management organizations, informal waste players, and households.
Impact:
- Conducted a successful study to assess the current state of the circular economy in the waste sector in Zimbabwe.
- Analyzed policy gaps and identified opportunities for Zimbabwe’s transition to circularity.
- Designed a conceptualized pilot project for the circular economy in Zimbabwe.
Aided Zimbabwe in designing a waste stream roadmap for attaining a circular economy in the waste sector, specifically focusing on the waste stream’s priorities. This roadmap includes short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations for appropriate technologies, legal reforms, policies and regulations, and market engagement.
Project Partners
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