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The Zambian government has expressed concern that only 18 percent of the over 80,000 metric tonnes of waste generated annually is properly disposed of at designated dumping sites, leaving a staggering 82 percent scattered across the environment.
Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Mike Mposha, revealed this on Thursday during the commemoration of the 2025 World Environment Day held at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
He noted that plastic waste accounts for about 14 percent of all solid waste generated in Zambia, making it one of the most prevalent and damaging forms of pollution.
Mposha called on the private sector to increase investments in waste management and recycling innovations to help curb plastic pollution in the country.
“The indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste has serious implications on our physical infrastructure. For instance, plastics have blocked drainage systems, leading to severe flooding in some areas,” he said.
He lamented that local authorities are forced to spend significant resources to unclog drainage systems in a bid to prevent flooding and the outbreak of waterborne diseases — a diversion of resources from other developmental priorities.
“This means we are redirecting funding from critical sectors to address preventable environmental issues, ultimately slowing down the country’s development,” Mposha added.
He stressed that ending plastic pollution was essential for Zambia’s sustainable development, and urged the private sector to adopt the circular economy model to better manage plastic waste.
Mposha said small actions — like properly segregating and disposing of plastic in designated areas — could facilitate its reuse, recycling, and recovery, reducing environmental harm.
“Our plastic manufacturers must take responsibility for the pollution caused and begin investing in sustainable product designs for a better future,” he stated.
He also urged financial institutions to support small-scale recyclers to increase their capacity and expand their operations.
Meanwhile, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Beatrice Mutali, announced that the UN has begun mapping pollution hotspots across Zambia, with a focus on key ecological zones.
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