BUJUMBURA, June 2 (ABP) – The Ministry responsible for environment, in collaboration with Burundian plastic waste recycling companies, recently installed new bins for plastic items in downtown Bujumbura. However, their use requires improvement, a check on the site by ABP revealed.
People met in the downtown area of Bujumbura city, where the bins are installed, stated that the local people are not yet accustomed to using them. They do not understand the importance of these recently installed bins. “It is clear that people are not informed about the existence of these bins because they continue to throw plastic bottles anywhere,” they testified. They added that others continue to collect them to reuse for selling drinking water, banana juice, and other products.
Others mentioned the lack of enforcement, noting that behavior change will take time for people to get used to using these bins.
However, all those interviewed by ABP appreciated the installation of these bins, specifying that they allow for the collection of plastic waste and contribute to creating a clean city.
Nevertheless, these same people lament the behavior of passengers who throw empty plastics near a bin even though it is not full.
Mr. Christian Nimubona, General Director of environment, water resources, and sanitation at the ministry of environment, agriculture, and livestock, pointed out that plastic waste is carried by rainwater into Lake Tanganyika, which in turn pollutes the lake’s water and disrupts the development of aquatic animals. This is why the ministry in charge of the environment has partnered with recycling companies to protect the environment and keep the country clean.
According to him, the installation of these bins in various parts of the Bujumbura city is part of the goal to combat the spread of plastic waste and also a good opportunity to facilitate the work of industries that recycle plastic waste so that they can dispose of it properly.
He praised the efforts of the government and plastic waste recycling companies in promoting a clean and green city. He then called on the population to stop throwing plastic waste into nature and instead use these new bins.