EnviroLine

LEGAL CORNER
ZEMA STOPS ISSUANCE OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
LICENCES
By Friday Phiri
Environmental Management (Extended Producer Responsibility)
Regulations, Statutory Instrument No.
65 of 2018.
However, the enactment of the Solid Waste Management
and Regulation Act No. 20 of 2018 (“the Solid
Waste Management Act”), has moved the responsibility
of issuance of waste management licences
from ZEMA to the Ministry responsible for regulating
Solid Waste.
Bundles of plastic waste ready for recycling
The Zambia Environmental Management Agency
(ZEMA) is mandated by the Environmental Management
Act (EMA) Number 12 of 2011 to ensure the
sustainable management of natural resources and
protection of the environment, and the prevention
and control of pollution.
“Following the enactment of the Solid Waste Management
Act, this responsibility has since moved
from ZEMA to the Ministry responsible for regulating
Solid Waste,” says Irene Lungu Chipili, ZEMA Corporate
Affairs Manager. “In this case, the Ministry of Local
Government is now responsible for issuing licences
to persons providing solid waste services. This
transition has since been effected. ZEMA takes this
opportunity to inform industry and stakeholders that
it has stopped the issuance of Waste Management
Licences. All applicants are advised of this change.”
In its mandate, ZEMA covers the following thematic
areas, namely; environmental assessments (Environmental
Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental
Assessment); water pollution control;
air pollution control including the control of Ozone
Depleting Substances; noise and land pollution control;
waste management (hazardous and industrial
waste); chemicals management; natural resources
and awareness raising.
To regulate these areas, ZEMA draws its legal mandate
from the EMA and its three subsidiary legislation
namely; the Environmental Protection and Pollution
Control (Environmental Impact Assessment)
Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997;
the Environmental Management (Licensing) Regulations,
Statutory Instrument No. 112 of 2013; and the
The Solid Waste Management and Regulation Act
No. 20 of 2018 (“the Solid Waste Management Act”)
therefore, mandates the Ministry of Local Government
to issue waste management licences to persons
to; (a) reclaim, re-use, recover or recycle waste; (b)
collect and dispose of waste from industrial, commercial,
domestic or community activities; (c) trans-
Enviroline |Page 10