SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN PLATEAU STATE; THE PROBLEMS AND THE WAY FORWARD

 

By KANZAH ABEL DANIEL*

First off, waste is any material or substance which has been discarded and is no longer required or useful at that particular moment (of course, such discarded materials can be recycled. Although, Nigeria and Plateau State in particular has not witnessed much  recycling of waste. However, it is important to note the efforts of Wilval Global Resources Limited). Examples of Solid waste include construction debris, scrap metal, Polythene bags, fruit peels, etc.

Solid Waste Management refers to the collection, transportation, treatment and proper disposal of solid wastes. Solid waste Management is a process that requires actions right from inception of the waste to its final disposal.

*RECYCLING:* Recycling refers to the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. Recycling is an alternative to conventional waste disposal that can save materials and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. 

I've observed the processes involved in Solid Waste Management overtime in Plateau State and one cannot shy away from the fact that there are issues. Many Plateau citizens have the poor habit of indiscriminately dumping wastes in drainages/waterways, open fields, amongst others. 

I was privileged to work with the Plateau State Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency — PEPSA (An Agency under the Ministry of Environment, in charge of waste management) for about 5 months (in 2018) where I followed one of the trucks as an Environmental Health Technologist to supervise and observe the process, and I can say that there's a need to do better. While I was there, it was one complain to the other; from lack of money to buy diesel to fuel the trucks used in collecting and transporting wastes, to machine faults due to lack of maintenance. In fact, the final disposal site isn't safe.

*PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT*

Now, let's briefly talk about the threats solid wastes pose to the Environment and Human health.

Collection and disposal of solid wastes is a major issue in most (if not all) developing countries. Unsustainable practices has worsened the management of Solid Wastes. The streets today are littered with wastes, which directly or indirectly affect human health and contribute significantly to environmental degradation. When you pass through Bukuru/Kugiya, oh my, it seems like cars are competing with wastes to claim the road. Dadin Kowa First gate too, littered wastes on the street, people dump wastes there and wait on the agency in charge of Waste Management to come and pack such. Just a few amongst the effects of these wastes disposed indiscriminately include;

1. Air contamination. One nuisance gotten as a result of this is odour. Gases are also emitted from these wastes. And once the air is contaminated, those around such areas, who continuously inhale such contaminated air, are vulnerable to air-borne diseases.

2. Unsightliness. The city/town becomes ugly and irritating, thereby making it unattractive for even tourists.

3. It breeds disease vectors. These vectors are capable of transmitting diseases to susceptible hosts, mechanically or biologically.

4. Surface Water/Underground Water Pollution. When the rains or wind comes, it can wash away or carry these wastes to water bodies or wells that aren't built in a sanitary way. This can affect live in water (eutrophication — excessive richness of nutrients in water, usually due to run off from land) and also contaminate water, which when ingested, can affect man's health.

These, amongst others are issues associated with poor Solid Waste Management.

*PEOPLE'S ATTITUDE TO WASTE DISPOSAL*

As a people, we have, and are still contributing to Solid Waste Management problems in Plateau State. The little things we ignore and term as "nothing" is actually a problem. We buy corn from the road side, eat and throw the cob indiscriminately by the road side and say it is "nothing." We buy and take sugarcane, and throw the peels by the road side, oh, it is "nothing." We eat in our cars and throw the plastic containers through our windows.

These things we do are very bad, and have devastating effects, and sooner or later, if we do not retrace our steps, we will have ourselves to blame. If you cannot find a waste/refuse bin close to you, it is best you take whatsoever useless material you have home and throw in your refuse bin.

*THE WAY FORWARD*

In my opinion, as a State, we can do much more in terms of Solid Waste Management. The Government MUST be deliberate in implementing measures/policies that are aimed at protecting the Environment. The few under listed points may be considered;

1. Introduce a door-to-door collection policy, where staff of the Waste Management Department — Ministry of Environment will go round houses in the metropolitan areas of the State, once every week, to collect wastes from houses at a fixed fee (which can also be a revenue generating area for the Government).

2. The Government should provide, and place very huge dano bins (quite a number of them) at strategic points within Jos metropolis such as Ahmadu Bello Way in Terminus, Murtala Mohammed Way in Terminus, First Gate — Dadin Kowa, Kugiya Market — Bukuru, Tudun Wada, etc, where passerby's and road shop owners can dump their wastes. These dano bins should be picked once it's filled up (depending on the amount of waste generated) by the Waste Management Agency for disposal and returned afterwards.

3. Place a ban on open dumping, as anyone caught will be asked to pay a fine.

4. The Government should mandate commercial facilities such as hotels, markets, etc to collect their wastes within their premises, and liaise with the Waste Management Agency on disposal measures, at a fixed fee of course. Same should apply to Institutions.

5. The State Government should provide Compressor Garbage Trucks to be used in Solid Waste collection and transportation, as it has more advantages than other trucks. It has a large capacity to carry more wastes, and the truck is closed. It is far more better than the Open trucks used by the Plateau State Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) in most cases — It carries less amount of wastes, and can fall off while transporting because the trunk is open.

6. Set up a Recycling Industry, where waste materials generated will be converted into new materials and objects, as an alternative way of waste disposal. This will reduce the use of fresh raw materials. In essence, recycling aims at environmental sustainability by substituting raw material inputs into, and redirecting waste outputs out of the economic system. It is also advisable that the Government provide a conducive and favorable condition for Private Organizations to invest in this.

7. It is important for Government to appoint a professional to serve as General Manager of the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency in order to achieve the goals of the agency. The House of Assembly committee responsible for carrying out oversight on this agency must be proactive in carrying out their responsibilities in order to ensure strict compliance.

Solid Waste Management is an issue in most developing countries, it is also an issue in my State, but we must make deliberate efforts in promoting activities that will aid in Sustaining our Environment. We only have one earth to protect. We must ensure smooth processes from Waste generation, to collection, transportation and final disposal. As citizens, we must do the right thing to avoid frustrating Government's efforts. The Government must step up too. *Let us Keep Plateau Clean!*

- Kanzah Abel Daniel is a graduate of Environmental Health, and a Post graduate student of Disaster Management, and can be reached via danielkanzahabel@gmail.com