In a bold move to combat environmental pollution, the Department of Environment and Natural Resource Management (ENRM) at LUANAR on Saturday organized a campus-wide plastic clearing day, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The event, which commenced at 9:00 a.m. at the ENRM Department premises and concluded at noon, drew participation from both staff and students who worked together to collect plastic waste, scrap metals, and other pollutants scattered across Bunda Campus.

Speaking during the official opening of the activity, the Head of the ENRM Department, Dr. Chrispine Kambani-Banda, commended the Government of Malawi for taking a strong stance against plastic pollution through the ban on thin plastics. He further called on manufacturers to halt the production of such plastics and instead invest in sustainable alternatives that are less harmful to the environment. “Each one of us has a role to play,” he said. “From institutional policies to individual choices, we must all rise to the challenge of creating a sustainable environment.”

In a landmark announcement, the department declared it had ceased the use of plastic-bottled water in all its official activities, adopting more eco-friendly alternatives as part of efforts to reduce its plastic footprint. The Head of Department also urged the University management to emulate this example by implementing concrete interventions to address plastic pollution on campus.

The cleaning exercise was led by Dr. Josephine Zimba Chirwa, a lecturer in the ENRM Department, renowned for her passionate advocacy for sustainable environmental practices. In her closing remarks, Dr. Chirwa applauded the students for their active participation and encouraged them to be ambassadors of the ‘No Plastic Use’ campaign at LUANAR.

Let’s all join hands and make LUANAR a plastic-free zone!