Under Section 5 of the Solid Waste Regulation and Management Act No. 20 of 2018, LISWMC is legally mandated to observe and promote key concepts and principles of solid waste management. These include recognizing that solid waste is a resource, promoting a solid waste hierarchy where prevention, reduction, re-use, recycling, and composting are primary considerations, and ensuring prudential financing mechanisms are in place.Our three strategic pillars directly operationalize these legal principles to transform Lusaka's waste management system.
Download the Solid Waste Regulation and Management Act No. 20 of 2018 below
The Polluter Pays Principle is a fundamental environmental policy enshrined in the SWRMA. It requires that every person, household, or business that generates solid waste bears the cost of its proper management. For too long, waste management in Lusaka has been underfunded, leading to service gaps, illegal dumping, and environmental degradation. LISWMC is operationalizing Section 5(h) of the Act by ensuring that waste generators contribute to the cost of safe and sustainable waste management.
Much of the waste that clogs drains, pollutes open spaces, and ends up in landfills consists of packaging materials. Under the EPR framework, manufacturers and distributors are held accountable for the post-consumer phase of their products. LISWMC is operationalizing Section 5(a) and 5(b) of the SWRMA by advocating for a system where producers contribute financially to the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of the packaging they introduce into the Zambian market.
The 3Rs Initiative is not just an environmental best practice—it is a legal mandate. Section 5(b) of the SWRMA explicitly establishes a hierarchy where prevention, reduction, re-use, recycling, and composting are the primary considerations, with disposal as the last resort. LISWMC is committed to operationalizing this hierarchy by transforming waste from a problem into a resource, reducing landfill pressure, creating green jobs, and generating economic value.
Together, these three strategies operationalize the key legal principles of the SWRMA. The Polluter Pays Principle (Section 5(h) & 67-71) ensures sustainable financing. Extended Producer Responsibility (Section 5(a) & 5(b)) brings producers into the solution. And the 3Rs Initiative (Section 5(b)) transforms waste into a resource. This is how Lusaka complies with the law while becoming a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous city.
Private sector operators, manufacturers, recyclers, and development partners are invited to collaborate in implementing the SWRMA.