……Goes tough over dumping of waste on Highways And Road Corridors.
By: Precious Oluwole
The Ondo State Waste Management Authority on Wednesday, organized one day Sensitization Workshop tagged “Indiscriminate Dumping Of Refuse Along Highways And Road Corridors, Socio-economic implications.”
In her opening remarks, the Chairman, Ondo State Waste Management Authority, Mrs Olayinka Alabi noted that Akure, the Ondo State capital is growing rapidly, and with this growth comes the challenge of managing waste effectively, adding that the lack of proper waste management infrastructure and practices has led to the rampant dumping of waste on our highways and road corridors.
Alabi described illegal dumping of refuse as an eyesore that poses significant environmental, health and economic risks.
According to her, dumping of waste on highway roads includes affects the aesthetic appeal of our dear State, and thereby deterring tourism and investment, Increases the risk of flooding and erosion, causes traffic congestion and accident, attracts pests and rodents into homes and living and trading premises and thus, increasing the risk of diseases such as Lassa fever, cholera, it ultimately results into contamination of our soil, water and air.
Alabi urged “stakeholders to ensure proper containerization of waste in prescribed dust bin and trash bags, educate and raise awareness among citizens, businesses, associations, and institutions about proper waste disposal practices, develop and implement effective waste management strategies, comply with, and enforce laws and regulations related to waste management (we should know that all of us have the divine responsibility to be the police of our Environment).”
The Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Olumide Kinga noted that it is important to have a clean environment in order to live a healthy life, noting that Ondo Waste Management has zero tolerance to illegal waste dump.
In her goodwill message, the President Environment Health Officer Association of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, Mrs Funke Babajide stated that to have a clean environment, everyone needs to involved and avoid illegal dumping of refuse.
She urged everyone to continue to encourage people to maintain a clean environment and keep supporting the environmental officers as well as Ondo State Waste Management Authority.
The Chairman Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, Ondo State chapter, Mr Wahab Olokungboye appreciated Ondo State Government for allowing private companies to participate in State Waste Management System.
Iyaloja of Ondo State, Mrs Aisida said that before, Ondo State was at the top list of the cleanest states in Nigeria, but now, things has changed. She urged the people of the State to stop the dumping refuse anyhow in the State.
She urged the State Government to ensure that are more trucks to make the works of waste parkers effective.
In his lecture, the guest speaker, Head of Department, Environment Health, Ondo State College of Health Technology, Akure, Sanitarian Abiodun David, who spoke on the topic “Socio- Economic Implications Of Indiscriminate Dumping Of Waste On Highways And Market Areas”, notes that it is essential to manage wastes.
According to him, methods of solid waste management are; Incineration, burning, land tipping, burial, hog feeding, pulverisation, recycling, among others.
David noted that the five Rs of Waste Management are; Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle.
He stressed that the environmental and health impacts of waste dumping includes; spread of diseases, skin infection, respiratory problems, odour nuisance, land degradation, water pollution, air pollution, health care costs, property value decline, among others.
The Guest Speaker opined that the solution to Indiscriminate dumping of refuse includes; encourage sustainable practices, sanitary landfill management, increase public awareness campaign, enact and enforce policies and regulations.
The event held at Ministry of Health hall, Alagbaka, Akure, the State Capital had in attendance, different stakeholders, including Cotton Dealers Association and Butchers Association, market women,
