PROPER disposal of wastes is a public good with benefits if wastes are properly and adequately disposed. Far reaching negative consequences on health and welfare could occur where the reverse is the case. In Ondo State and Nigeria in general, the problem of solid waste disposal has become one of the enduring and intractable serious environmental challenges requiring quick-fix solutions.
IN recent times, mounting hills of improperly disposed waste have been found to be widespread in the major cities of Ondo State. This has become a source of serious concern to the people and authorities. The issue is of a great concern due to the recent outbreak of cholera in states such as Bauchi and Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, where thousands of people have been affected with fatalities.
IN general, there has been a phenomenal growth in the quantity of wastes generated daily in Nigeria due to rapid urbanization and industrialization.
THIS growth has resulted in increases in waste generation without corresponding increases in the ability of agencies responsible for managing wastes for their proper and final disposal. In short, many local governments lack effective wastes management system, even though the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria assigned this onerous responsibility to them. Their failures in the past motivated the Ondo State Government to create the Ondo State Waste Management Authority in 1999 to control and manage municipal waste. Later, private agencies were contracted to undertake waste collection and transportation to disposal sites.
THIS practice is still in operation now. Other factors that contribute to improper disposal of wastes in the state include open dumping of solid waste, unkept and illegal solid waste dumps sites, indiscriminate dumping of solid waste along the streets, drainage channels and water courses by urban dwellers. Consequently, the amount of wastes produced continue to grow at a high rate, resulting in poor environmental condition, with attendant piles of uncollected waste irresponsibly dumped on vacant plots and open spaces in different parts of the state.
IMPROPER and poor disposal of wastes have several consequences. Chief among them is the contamination of soil and water resources, foul odour and aesthetics devaluation of environmental resource, risk of accidents from improper handling of waste, production of methane due to decomposition of organic waste and generation of solid leachates from organic procedures. In short, people are affected by pollution from domestic waste disposal problems. Besides the general environmental problems associated with poor waste disposal, the breakout of cholera in some states provides the need to examine the problems and find a quick and lasting solutions. In other words, it has become more urgent to provide solutions to the seeming intractable waste disposal problems in the state.
IN recognition of the need to avert the consequences of improper disposal of waste, the United Nations in 1996 at the Istanbul Declaration recommitted itself to improving waste disposal services in member state including Nigeria . The same vein, Ondo State Government must recommit itself to improving solid waste management, especially the waste disposal component that is plagued with serious challenges at present. The state and local governments in the state have the responsibilities to ensure that there is effective and efficient disposal of waste in Ondo State. This presupposes or suggests empowering and increasing the capacity and number of organizations assigned the task of waste disposal in the state. The authority responsible for waste disposal must be given access to formal means of solid wastes disposal in Ondo State.
THIS is because available record by National Bureau of Statistics (NBC) in 2010 stated that in 2007, only 23.1 percent of households in Nigeria had access to formal means of solid sate disposal, 23.5 percent in 2008, 23.1 in 2009 and 28.3 percent in 2010 (NBC, 2010). In addition, there must be vigorous and sustained sensitization as well as education of residents of Ondo State on the ways and importance of good environmental hygiene and proper waste disposal.
THE authority responsible for waste collection and disposal should be properly and sufficiently equipped and mobilized to undertake the task of waste disposal. The present situation where wastes are improperly disposed cannot guarantee health and safety of the citizenry.