Trucks used in the collection and transportation of solid waste at the ongoing drainage disilting and waste evacuation exercise in Anambra, now cause the littering of streets and roads in Onitsha metropolis, THE RAZOR NEWS has discovered.
Our correspondent who monitored the evacuation exercise observed that the littering of streets and roads was because the trucks used for collection and transportation of the waste were not covered by the refuse collectors.
Just as there are best practices regarding the collection, storage, and disposal of solid waste, there are also best practices for the transportation of solid waste between waste management facilities.
Under the Anambra State Waste Management Authority Law, 2015, Number 9 Part III (14), it is against the law to operate garbage trucks carrying waste without proper cover.
According to the law, the trucks should be at least covered with a tarpaulin or other such material.
It could be recalled that Gov. Charles Soludo constituted a Waste Evacuation Committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, to start a week-long waste evacuation exercise on April 2.
The exercise kicked off at Onitsha North and South, Ogbaru and Idemili North local government areas and environs where various heaps of refuse dump sites were seen in many strategic points and junctions.
These heaps of refuse did not only threatened the environment and health of the residents and road users, it also restricted them from accessing other parts of the town through the routes.
A residents in Onitsha, Mr Louis Eke, a trader, said though the waste evacuation was a laudable initiative but it should be done properly.
“Since January, we have been experiencing waste dumping crisis in this area, we were happy when Gov. Soludo ordered the clean-up exercise to give Onitsha and its environs a facelift.
“But the same wastes are dropping on the roads from the trucks carrying the waste to landfills. This is counter productive, ” he said.
Another resident who identified herself as Mama Chidera said when she noticed the wastes dropping in front of her shop, she called the attention of the waste management officials but they did nothing.
“I packed some of the wastes in front of my shop back to the site where they are evacuating refuse to call their attention. They promised to come and clear the spills of waste but they never came,” she said.
A source close to the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) who pleaded anonymity, admitted that trucks carrying waste without proper cover was against the law.
According to him, the anomalies and challenges experienced in Anambra is as a result of lack of proper waste management structure and non implementation of the law.
Dr Dubem Ikem, an Environmental Health Expert in Awka, says carrying of garbage without any cover causes a nuisance as the contents can spill onto the road and create litter, or damage other vehicles coming from behind.
“Covering of garbage trucks when transporting wastes is the standard practice. In developed countries there are serious penalties if not covered.
“This is because it creates the opposite of the desired goal of the evacuation exercise as the litter that escape from uncovered trucks can dirty the streets, wash into drains and pollute or block waterways again,” he said.
Ikem urge urgent and sustained efforts by the new administration led by Gov. Soludo to prioritise waste management in the state by implementing the provisions of the State Waste Management Authority Law, 2015.
He also urged resident to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse by demonstrating patriotic and positive attitudinal change on the issue of environmental sanitation.
