By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, December 1, Mana: Youth for Success and Development (YASD) has encouraged youth in the country to take advantage of wastes by turning them into manure, wrist bands and other products that are user and environmentally friendly to all.

Chief Executive Director for YASD, Edward Msiska said this during a clean-up exercise at Wakawaka market in Lilongwe on Saturday.

Msiska said the exercise was meant to raise awareness of waste management, in line with the Lilongwe City Council's strategic plan, which states that the city should be free from poor waste management.

He said the initiative will help to promote proper waste management by encouraging the market owners to follow the right procedures when disposing of waste, which is one way of promoting hygiene and sanitation.

“Our youths will use the waste collected here at Wakawaka market to make manure, wrist bands and other products that can be used for agricultural purposes and others,” he said.

He said YASD believes in innovation by turning the wastes into other usable things which are also environmentally friendly.

"YASD has partnered with the market committee on how best to dispose of waste to promote hygiene and sanitation since most of the goods that are sold at the market are foods that are used for consumption purposes," added Msiska.

Chairperson for the market committee, Matius Jiya, said the coming of the youth under the YASD organization to clean the market has opened eyes to many people in the market on the importance of hygiene and sanitation when buying and selling goods.

“The coming of the organisation has made our market smart since many people carelessly dispose of waste which was making the market unhygienic.

“I would like to take this chance to appeal to all well-wishers to provide the market with dustbins, gloves, and shovels so that they can be used for cleaning the market easily to promote hygiene and sanitation,” he explained.

One of the youths from Area 36 youth forum Kingsley Phiri hailed the organisation for involving them in different projects including the clean-up exercise at the market.

“The waste that we have obtained will be used to make manure for our agricultural purposes in our area which will help us to reduce the costs of buying fertiliser that is very unaffordable currently," he said.

YASD is working with several youths and women groups in different parts of central region as one way of promoting clean city campaign for all.