FG Tasked on waste disposal laws

as Environmental group marks 'World Earth Day' with plastic disposal campaign
Elo Edremoda

The federal government has been tasked to provide laws that will ensure proper disposal of wastes in order to protect the environment.

Speaking during a cleanup/awareness exercise tagged 'End Plastic Pollution' at Effurun Market, Uvwie local government area on Thursday, 19 April, the Delta state chapter of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), in collaboration with the state's Waste Management Board and health officers of the council, explained that with such laws in place, Nigeria, in few years, will attain the level of the western world in terms of environmental conditions.

Addressing officials of the market, the vice chairman of NES while noting that the exercise is to commemorate the 2018 World Earth Day, stated thus: "The clothes, food and other things we use come from the earth. NES is saying we should care for the environment so that it can take care of us.

"We want to tell the federal government to pass laws to guide waste disposal so that in the next 10 years we will reach the level at which they are in the western world."

In a related development, the director of Sonnesmann Waste, a plastic recycling company, Solomon Nnadozie, has urged people to dispose plastic properly instead of throwing them everywhere.

According to him, plastics and pet wastes which comprise chairs, cream cups, buckets, water bottles and so on, when not well disposed, cause lots of harm such as blockage of drainage.

However, when recycled, "these wastes (plastics and pet bottles) are turned into fiber foams and jerseys internationally," Nnadozie disclosed.

Adding her voice, a Health Officer, Sanitarian (Mrs.) Eloho Eyione explained how wastes should be disposed.

"The wastes, plastics, papers and foods, should be disposed separately," she stated.

A member of the state's Waste Management Board, Sir Igho Akpojotor said, "Our campaign is 'sort out the waste'. Plastic is a major aspect that defecates our environment because it cannot decompose, so it has to be managed.

"Plastic waste should be sorted out and taken to the appropriate dumpsite from where they would be processed by recycling companies and made useful items. It is part of creating wealth out of waste."

Speaking at the end of the exercise, some NES officials who had earlier embarked on a plastic cleanup of the market commended the traders for their compliance.

A NES official, Mr. Jevi, who had also made available his truck for the cleanup of the market advised the market men and women to learn to throwaway plastic right.

"Your plastic waste is wealth. Separate your waste and our environment will be clean," Jevi emphasized.

Meanwhile, the executive members of the Effurun market including the chairman, Mike Agaren and Supervisory Councilorfor Environment, Teddy Mawe, have commended the NES and other collaborating agencies for the gesture.

Stating that the gesture is a welcomed development, Agaren expressed hope that the development will be sustained

"It is a good one. I hope they keep this up and come from time to time."

Earlier, he had asked to know the benefits to be derived from the gathering of plastic waste.