MUNINCIPAL
WASTES: AN UNNECESARY EVIL
What
comes into your mind whenever you flip over a magazine and catchy
heading meets your eyes about uncollected heaps of garbage at our
towns? The municipalities, through the local government act are
mandated to ensure a conducive and sustainable environment within
their designated area. Solid waste management is a duty in their
check list.
This
conservation exercise entails collection, transportation and disposal
of the wastes on a daily basis. Paradoxically, bulk of unmanaged
municipal waste scatters everywhere - Along streets, open fields, in
verandahs and within business and residential places. It is partially
true to allege that a big number of municipal residents have a poor
conversation record but extremely true that the municipalities are
overwhelmed by the garbage crisis. Generated quantities of these
unwanted materials have surpassed management capabilities. Literary
scholars would refer this phenomenon as a chronic problem while
conservationists would call it waste menace.
Whichever
phrase describes the situation, this is an unnecessary evil that
merits outright address.
The
ineffectiveness and underperformance by the municipalities is
attributed to lack of enough equipment as transportation Lorries,
personnel and funding in retrospect to the changing social and
economic patterns. Population numbers have increased and
technological advancements occurred rapidly. Cultures have been
transformed, lifestyles changed and the sickening `throw away’
habit perfected. Strewn litter everywhere is not an act of half sober
or immature minds but shameful and unintelligent deeds of fully
conscious people.
I
refuse to believe these garbage mountains are indicators of weak
council by – laws or limited dumping sites within the
municipalities. I totally refuse to believe too, that it is either
due to lack of any conservation legislature at all.
Not
long ago, most people gave little or no thought to this municipal
waste affair. But lately, headlines on uncollected, stinky and
unsightly garbage in our counties have grabbed the attention of
environmental activists, students and the public. These headlines
have fixed in the public mind the idea that municipalities are
becoming incapable of managing wastes generated by the society. Thus,
as the media carries out stories on municipal waste crisis, tertiary
level students should undertake to carry out researches to establish
facts about the waste menace and avail solutions – which could be
privatization of garbage services or strict adaptation of
conservation techniques of re-using, reducing and recycling.
Whether
the municipalities really accept the much hyped hypotheses that they
are in the midst of garbage crisis is a matter of study scholars
should commit to unravel. But what cannot be denied is the view that
municipal wastes problem has become a dragon we all should partake to
waylay. I urge all to conserve their environments during this festive
season. Best Christmas wishes in a clean and healthy environment!!!
