Poor Waste Management Practices and Effects
Matthew Emberga Biem
Waste management (waste disposal) refers to the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inceptions to its final disposal. This includes the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste together with the monitoring and regulation of the waste management process. Waste can be solid, liquid, or gas, and each type has different methods of disposal and management.Waste management deals with all the types of wastes including industrial, biological, and household waste.
Waste disposal is one of the major environmental problems that developing nations (including Nigeria) are faced with. Suffice to say that, in many urban and semi-urban areas in Nigeria, it is commonplace to observe waste dumpsites littered everywhere with reckless abandon. The attitude of Nigerian citizens towards efficient waste management, (i.e. collection and disposal) is also seriously questionable owing to the fact that carefully regulated waste management policies are either lacking or not strictly implemented. As a result, around our communities nationwide waste can be seen close to and/or on the sides of markets, eateries, malls, industries, city and rural roads, residential households, among other places. For instance, even in well planned cities in Nigeria it is very common to see members of our various communities dump waste of any kind in public places in broad daylight without been questioned (as a matter of civic responsibility) by well meaning citizens of such a community or fined by local waste/health regulatory agents because such behavior is now considered a normal rather than an aberration. This kind of attitude is due either to, lack of awareness on the need to observe efficient waste management protocols or failure of the government to strictly apply waste management regulations in line with extant laws, and also create an enabling environment that promotes the growth and development of waste management firms to partner the government where and when it has failed in its responsibility to its citizens.
In Nigeria, the problem of waste management has two major parts, each with its unique failure(s): that of waste collection and waste disposal. Thus, waste not collected on time, and perhaps poorly, tend to degrade into unpleasant compounds, unhealthy to man, animals and the environment. Also, waste disposed in the wrong places or using wrong methods constitute an environmental and public health nuisance. Additionally, the absence of awareness on the need to pay for waste generated to be collected and disposed creates room for the poor waste management practices among the citizens.
Conclusively, poor waste management leads to health hazards (disease outbreaks or the buildup of pests), traffic congestion on roads, unsightliness, unpleasantness, and blockage of drainages (which may lead to flooding and loss of lives and properties). Therefore, it is incumbent on the government and sister agents to create awareness on proper waste management and strictly enforce laid down regulations thereof, in order to achieve the goal of effective and efficient waste management in our society. After all, like the saying goes, “cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
Aptly captured!
Succinctly discussed!!
Have been enlightened and broadened by this piece.