GROUP 1

LAWS ON
INTRODUCTION
These are laws and regulations that govern the handling, management and disposal of industrial
waste.
 Zimbabwe’s economy is endowed with a wealth in natural resources across many sectors that
are contributing to the current linear model of extract, make and dispose.
Zimbabwe has promulgated public policies and private initiatives to advance towards an
Integrated Waste Management (IWM) through the Constitution, Acts, regulations, programs and
initiatives establishing a framework for Waste Management, providing for waste reduction,
recovery, reuse and recycling to protect the health of its citizens and the environment
(Government of Zimbabwe 2013).
LAWS
Municipal laws
National Laws
International laws
Municipal laws
These are laws that are enacted by local governments such as City Councils .
When it comes to industrial waste, municipal laws regulate the proper disposal of waste and the
location of waste facilities.
They also impose fines or other penalties for violating the laws
The following Acts are used by municipalities to regulate industrial waste;
Air Quality Act
Water Pollution Act
Hazardous substance and Articles Act
Air Quality Act
This is a law that was passed by the Parliament of Zimbabwe in 2004 to protect public health
and the environment from air pollution.
The act requires the EMA (Environmental Management Agency) to set national air quality
standards for common pollutants for example carbon-monoxide, lead, nitrogen-dioxide, sulfur-
dioxide and particulate matter.
It also gives EMA the authority to regulate air pollution from both stationery and mobile
sources such as factories, power plants and vehicles.
Water pollution Act
The water pollution control act of Zimbabwe was enacted in 1974 to protect the country’s water
resources from pollution.
The Act establishes regulations for discharging waste water into surface waters and ground
water.
It also requires that anyone who discharge waste water must obtain a permit from the
government.
Under the Act, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is responsible for monitoring
water quality and enforcing the regulations.
For example, for brewers the EMA’s standards require that the waste water should have a Ph
between 6 and 9 and a total suspended solids concentration of less than 200mg/l.
Its important to note that while the law applies to all industries, it focuses specifically on
mining, manufacturing and agriculture.
Hazardous Substance and Articles Act

The act was passed in 1985 to regulate the importation, distribution, storage and use of
hazardous substances.
The act defines hazardous substances as any chemical that is toxic, corrosive, flammable,
explosive or radioactive.
Under the act, anyone who imports, distribute or stores hazardous substances must register with
the EMA and comply with the regulations.
The Act also establishes guidelines for the safe handling and disposal of hazardous substances.
National laws
These are determined by the government
Limits are based on international standards and also current environmental situation in the
country
Also based on Government policies such as environmental and health, waste minimization and
Reduction, reuse and recycle.
Based on Acts for example, Environmental Management Act
Environmental Management Agency

It was enacted in 2002 and revised in 2014.

The Act establishes the principles of sustainable development and provides the
protection and conservation of the environment.
It also sets out the requirements for environmental impact assessments,
environmental audits, and the management of hazardous substances.
The Act also provides for the establishment of the EMA, which is responsible for
implementing the Act and ensuring compliance with the environmental
regulations.
Environmental Management Agency
The objectives are to;
Promote sustainable development and ensure that environmental resources are utilized in an
ecological sustainable manner.
Ensure that the environment is protected from pollution and degradation
Formulate quality standards on air, water, soil, noise, vibration and waste management
International Environmental laws(IEL)
The law was adopted by organizations such as the United Nations(UN),UNEP,WHO
It is concerned with the attempt to control pollution and the depletion of natural resources
within a framework of sustainable development
For example it deals with international standards like ISO:14001, which set out requirements
for an environmental management system.
It covers topics such as population, biodiversity, climate change, ozone depletion, toxic and
hazardous substances.
The development of IEL has brought about positive change in controlling environmental
degradation in many areas(e.g protection of the ozone layer)
Contin-----
Some other standards that cover industrial waste include the Basel convention, the Stockholm
Convention etc.

BASEL CONVENTION
 Its main purpose is to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of
hazardous waste.
It achieves this by requiring that all transboundary movements of hazardous be authorised
and that the waste be managed in an enviromentally sound mannner.
Also requires that countries develop national plans for managing their hazardous waste and
take steps in reducing that produced waste.
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

is a global treaty that aims to protect human health and the environment from the harmful
effects of POPs. POPs are substances that persist in the environment, are toxic, and
bioaccumulate in the food chain.
Some examples of POPs include dioxins.
Requires countries to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the
environment.
It also bans or restricts the production and use of certain POPs.
RCRA –resource conservation recovery
Act
RCRA has three main objectives:
to protect human health and the environment from the risks posed by hazardous waste,
to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated,
to ensure that hazardous waste is managed in a way that is cost-effective and protects the
environment.
RCRA aims to achieve these objectives through a variety of mechanisms, including the
establishment of national standards for the management of hazardous waste, the development
of state programs for the management of hazardous waste, and the implementation of a
comprehensive enforcement program.
These mechanisms are designed to ensure that hazardous waste is managed in a way that is
protective of human health and the environment.
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