In Zambia waste management does not only present challenges in the country but also presents opportunities for Policy innovation and systemic reforms especially for the Youths.
A promising approach is promotion of household level waste separation, where recyclable materials like plastics and bottles are separated from organic waste. Improving recycling and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Current status of waste management
Zambia generates over 80,000 metric tonnes of waste annually, 30 to 40 percent is formally collected through municipal systems. Yet only 18 percent is properly disposed of and 7 percent is recycled leaving the majority scattered across the environment. In cities like Lusaka, where roughly 1 million tonnes of waste are produced each year, municipal systems struggle to keep pace with rapid urbanization and rising consumption patterns.
Policies and gaps
The National Environment Policy 2025 with Environmental Management and Solid Waste regulation Acts which created the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to regulate environmental protection and waste disposal. Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations that require producers to take responsibility for waste generated by their products. Additionally, public awareness initiatives such as the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy Campaign aim to encourage community participation in environmental sanitation. However, despite this relatively comprehensive framework, significant gaps remain in enforcement, Infrastructure, No funding for youth-led Smart climate/Environmental projects and lack of public participation (awareness ) from youths. Waste segregation at household level is still limited, recycling systems remain underdeveloped, and many local authorities lack sufficient resources to manage increasing waste volumes.
Implications on Health, Climate and infrastructure and Urban planning.
Poor waste management in Zambia has serious implications for public health, climate stability, and urban infrastructure. In cities such as Lusaka, improperly disposed waste frequently blocks drainage systems and contaminates water sources, contributing to disease outbreaks. During the 2017–2018 cholera outbreak, Lusaka recorded over 5,900 cases and more than 100 deaths, with health authorities linking the spread of the disease to contaminated water, poor sanitation, and unmanaged waste in densely populated communities. These risks are particularly severe in informal or “shanty” compounds such as Kanyama and Chawama where rapid urban growth has resulted in unplanned housing, limited sanitation infrastructure, and inadequate waste collection services.
Over 70% of Lusaka’s population lives in informal settlements, making waste management a critical urban planning challenge. Additionally, the common practice of burning waste in these communities releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to poor air quality and greenhouse gas emissions that intensify climate change pressures such as drought and extreme weather patterns. At the same time, plastic waste blocking drainage systems contributes to urban flooding during rainy seasons, damaging roads, homes, and public infrastructure. These combined health, climate, and infrastructure impacts highlight the urgent need for integrated waste management policies that support both environmental sustainability and resilient urban development.
Policy Reform Recommendations and Way Forward
One key reform is household waste separation, which encourages residents to sort plastics, glass, and organic waste at the source. In Zambia, households generate about 77% of municipal solid waste, yet most of it is disposed of without sorting. As a result, recyclable materials are often lost when mixed with organic and hazardous waste. Studies indicate that only about 15% of municipal solid waste is currently recovered or recycled, largely due to the absence of household-level sorting systems. Over 60–80% of municipal waste has potential economic value through recycling or composting.
Another important reform is the strengthening of public private recycling partnerships. In cities such as Lusaka, an estimated 1,200 to 1,667 tonnes of waste are generated daily, yet limited infrastructure means that a large portion is not effectively collected or processed. Partnerships between municipal councils and recycling companies could create formal markets for reusable materials while reducing pressure on landfills and dumpsites.
A third reform involves introducing incentive based waste collection systems. Currently, only about 30 to 40% of waste in Zambia is formally collected, leaving the majority in illegal dumpsites or burned in open spaces. By allowing councils to generate revenue from recyclable materials, waste collection services could be partially financed through recycling markets. This approach would reduce the financial burden on households while strengthening municipal waste management systems.
Finally, policies should actively promote youth driven recycling enterprises. Waste management already provides informal livelihoods for many individuals working at dumpsites such as Chunga Dumpsite, but the sector remains largely unstructured and under-supported. With targeted policy support, young entrepreneurs could develop businesses focused on waste collection, recycling, and environmental innovation, creating employment while improving urban sanitation.
About Author
Inambao Kamayoyo is Nutritionist and policy Advocate. He writes this article in his personal capacity.