Sustainable waste management

During this rainy season, it is imperative that we scale up sustainable solid waste management practices so as to avoid the negative impacts associated with littering. Concerted effort is therefore required for us to have clean, safe and healthy environs. Who can take action?

Corporates ◆ Adopt the cradle to the grave principle, which refers to the responsibility a company takes for the entire life cycle of a product, service or program, from design to disposal or termination. ◆ Ensure there are sufficient waste receptacles servicing your premises. ◆ Maintain the frontage, back corridors and sanitary lanes of you work premises clean at all times. ◆ Donate branded bins to Local

Authorities. This will serve a dual purpose; it acts as a way of advertising and at the same time assist in the provision of bins. ◆ Organise regular clean ups to keep shopping centres, business premises and working areas clean and attractive to customers. ◆ Set up cages to collect recyclable cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles etc. Sell all recyclable material to recycling companies. ◆ Food outlets should sell their food leftovers to piggery or individuals with pets. ‘Adopt’ zones in your city/town and maintain it clean on a regular basis. The zone can be a street, round about, island, business/ shopping centre and bus termini. Approach your local authority on the adoption of zones. ◆ Corporates should have waste management plans and policies to ensure sustainable waste management at their workplaces and also in the business value chain.

Small and Medium Enterprises

A clean, safe and healthy environment needs public participation. Every sector, including SMEs, has a role to play in waste management and the following is expected. ◆ Distribute legally acceptable plastic carrier bags and also provide shopping bags as alternatives. ◆ Declare how you are dealing with

the waste of your imported goods ◆ Consider alternatives for fast food

packs rather than Kaylites. ◆ Desist form the use of posters and flyers to advertise your businesses, rather opt for the use of electronic media such as TV, radio, Facebook etc.

Residents

◆ Form community based organisations (CBOs) and regularly clean up residential frontage, backyards and streets in your area. ◆ Separate your waste into biodegradable, plastic bottles (PEPs) and metal cans. ◆ Compost all material that is biodegradable. Use the manure for your vegetable gardens. ◆ Avoid burning waste, the fumes

cause cancer. ◆ Avoid dumping of waste.

Schools, colleges and universities

◆ Form environmental groups to spearhead clean-up of institutional frontage and roads leading to these institutions and back corridors and sanitary lanes. ◆ Adopt areas/zones for clean-up and enhance the school and the community relationships. ◆ Set up cages to collect plastics,

glass, cans for pupils. ◆ Collect recyclables at home and

bring to school on a set day.

Local authorities

◆ Have a known waste collection

schedule that you adhere to. ◆ Ensure there are sufficient waste bins in urban and business centres. ◆ Develop Communication and education platforms for your areas. ◆ Develop waste management plans

and implement them. ◆ Every Local Authority should have a properly lined landfill where waste is disposed of. Report all illegal solid waste dumps and sewer bursts to the Environmental Management Agency and your local authority.