By: Shola Ojo Creates
Some metropolitan residents of Kaduna State have noted that government alone may not be able to manage the volume of solid waste being generated in the State daily.
Solid waste management experts have said over time that one person generates at least one kilogram of waste per day.
What that means is that Kaduna with about ten million people will be generating solid waste in tons per day which may be difficult to manage.
From Zaria in Kaduna North senatorial zone to Kaduna in Kaduna Central senatorial down to Kafanchan, the Kaduna South senatorial zone, the story of indiscriminate dumping of refuse is the same.
In most cases, this continues due to weak enforcement of environmental laws and poor awareness and sensitisation campaign despite the support of development partners and civil society groups working around the environment in the State.
A scavenger and a bags shop at Goni Gora, Idris Shehu, said, though he has regularised his scavenging business with Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority, he can do more in proper management of the waste especially if engaged to do so.
“We are not just here. We are registered with the Kaduna government to pick recyclable materials from refuse and sell them.
“I have a shop in Goni Gora where I sell bags and another one where I sell these recyclable items to recyclers. We move around to remove disused cans, plastics, rubber, paper, and other things to keep the environment clean”.
A Kaduna-based media practitioner, Shola Ojo, who has been monitoring the development over the years noted that a lot has to be done in terms of effective containment of solid waste in the State.
“Government alone cannot do this. I am aware that Kaduna Capital Territory Authority has engaged about 11 contractors to manage waste, especially on major streets.
“The concern is whether those contractors have the expertise to do it in such a way that in addition to cleaner, greener and safer Kaduna, it will add value to the residents’ wellbeing and internally generated revenue drive of the State”, he said.
An environmental newsman with Deutsche Welle (DW), Ibrahima Yakubu noted for example that, “most of the trash dump centers inside metropolis seen to be empty due to activities of recyclers collecting all sort of trash”.
Executive Director, Aid Foundation, Mr. Emmanuel Bonnet however noted that it is high time “people are made to be responsible for their action or inaction whenever avoidable disaster happen as a result of poor handling of solid waste” from homes, market etc to the dump site..