The population estimated at over 170 million producing thousand tons of waste each day, waste disposal remains a big issue to deal with, especially when it piles up on the streets and residential areas.
The Edo State Waste Management Board has urged residents in the state to imbibe cleanliness and proper disposal of waste generated during the yuletide.The board stated this in a statement signed by the Director/Board Secretary, Godfrey Ehon, which also urged residents, “to adhere to the principle of cleanliness by ensuring their premises and immediate environment are kept clean.”
It further added that the board is doing, “this is to sustain the tempo of a clean and green environment, which is the drive of the present administration towards a sustainable environment.”
Ehon said it was aware of the magnitude of waste generated during the yuletide season and therefore wishes to advise the general public to imbibe the culture of simple hygiene, noting that there will be three task force officers whose responsibilities will be to monitor and assist the public on waste matters, to ensure prompt evacuation of refuse as well as strict adherence to laid down rules.
It however warned that offenders of the environmental sanitation laws will be strictly sanctioned.Meanwhile, Kaduna government has improved the solid waste management in the Kaduna Metropolis. This programme symbolises the government’s commitment to mop-up a total of about 30,000 kilogramme of plastic bottles and bags in the exercise, and it would keep capital city clean to achieve the optimum standard in all aspects of it.
State Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Amina Sijuwade stated at the flag off of Door-to Door Waste Collection Programme, said it is no longer news that capital city has adopted a negative posture to doing business as usual.
She argued, business of keeping our environment is now at a stage where the capital resources as well as the human commitment must be explored, as a matter of necessity in the area of solid waste management, adding, this is a priority of the government.
According to her, “We are working together with State Environmental Protection Agency towards improving on our solid waste management in the State, and this marks the beginning of a new trend in the management of our environment.”
She also explained, the objective of the exercise is to re-echo to the public the waste nuisance that plastics cause, and to emphasize the need to reduce, reuse and recycle these plastics, even as the move to biodegradable alternatives are made.
“We want to see that aggregation of waste for collection begins at the households, or primary points of waste production such as businesses, schools, hospitals, and offices, and waste would be evacuated to the larger collection points.”
“The reason for government to adopt the programme is to reduce the burden on citizens having to go long distances to dispose of their waste; which at many times translates to improper disposal, thereby causing a litter of the environment.”She however, said these waste bins are to aid the whole process, and it would cost N40million to purchase 100 galvanised 1100 litre bins, and 400 plastic 240 litre bins, and would be distributed to specially designated points within the Kaduna Metropolis.
