Kwara Govt introduces portable waste bins
Kwara Govt introduces portable waste bins
By Mujidat Oyewole
Refuse
Ilorin, March 19, 2020 (NAN) The Kwara Government says it will introduce portable waste bins by the road side in order to ensure proper disposal of refuse and cleanliness in the state.
The Director of Environment in the state Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Mr Ajide Sunday, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.
Ajide said that the ministry was evolving several plans which, he said, would be finalised in March, to be properly executed by April 1.
“Presently, we have eight waste management contractors moving round the metropolis on daily basis, to collect waste from house to house, and also pack roadside refuse dumped by the roadside.
“Things have really changed in terms of packing of refuse, as many areas have been well coordinated and the old waste bins have been removed for new ones to be installed.
“The old waste bins are very big, making it difficult for vehicles to easily empty the waste, but the new waste bins that will be replaced, will be portable for easy movement of both vehicles and street sweepers to empty,” he said.
The director said that despite the effort to pack refuse and make the environment clean, some people still continue dumping refuse by the roadside and in drainages.
“The little rainfall of yesterday, people saw it as an opportunity for them to dispose their refuse in drainages and road sides, believing that the rain water will wash it away,” Ajide noted.
He said that government was doing its best to ensure proper disposal of refuse, but the people were not cooperating, adding that there is need for residents to cultivate the habit of proper disposal of refuse.
“Government has evacuated all the dirt in the rivers across the state capital, like Amilengbe river, Ita-amodu river and Unity river, but of recent refuse had been dumped beside the rivers again.
“It is not possible for government to be everywhere at the same time, so people should cooperate with the commercial refuse collectors, in terms of proper disposal and payment of charges.
“Some of those that cannot afford to pay the commercial waste management contractors the stipends of N500 or N1,000, depending on their agreement, can dump their refuse in the available waste bins.
“While those that can afford it, should talk with the waste management contractors and stop driving a long distance with refuse in their car booth, to dump by the road side or in rivers,” he said.
He said one of the policy trust of the present adminstration in the state was the protection and sustenance of the environment through diverse approaches, and one of it was the waste management contractors that had been introduced.
“We have an open bid for interested contractors to join in refuse collection and packing, and by April 1, we should be able to have more waste management contractors, that will come with their equipment for the job,” he said.
The environmentalist said that the state has divided the metropolis into three zones, where the contractors would be managing each of the zones.
NAN reports that there are heaps of refuse dumped by the roadsides across Ilorin metropolis, especially along Airport road, Eid prayer ground area, along Irewolede Estate road, Oja-Oba market and new market junction. (NAN)
MOB/ESAN/MST
Edited by Abiodun Esan/Muhammad Suleiman Tola