Solid Waste Management, A Havoc In Urban Centres

Solid Waste Management, A Havoc In Urban Centres
The high rate of urbanization has increased the production of municipal solid waste production in urban centers causing daily tons of waste available for collection.
As a result in some instances, the capacity of urban authorities to manage solid waste. Disposal of solid waste has for quite long been a major urban problem.
The growing affluence and the changing technology have increased the volume of solid waste and changed its character further complicating efforts in waste management.
The increasing public awareness and concern for the environment, for a clean and healthy environment, has enlightened and brought the demand for water and air pollution protection thereby increasing awareness for better solid waste management.
Poor management of solid waste in urban areas has led to air and land pollution, loss of aesthetic value of urban land, and clogging of urban drainage systems leading to floods; resulting in loss of lives and property.
Several factors influence efforts in solid waste management:
i) Public prejudice on landfills due to improper operations and management of the sites making acquisition difficult.
ii) Irresponsible dumping of waste at undesignated places.
iii) Poor infrastructure in transportation and management of the waste
iv) Changing technology that increases the difficulty in choosing a particular waste disposal site.
v) Increasing cost of waste management
Solid waste should be managed adequately to conform to the best principles of public health and the environment while also being responsive to public attitudes and concerns.
Solid waste disposal sites should have an attractive landscape to change negative perspective on landfills. Provide waste incinerators and recycling facilities within industrial zones and ensure timely collection of waste from the source.
Urban authorities can integrate the urban population to participate in waste management to complement their services.
However, to promote community participation the authorities must develop and implement community awareness programs to enable people to adopt appropriate waste-handling practices.
In addition, partnerships should be encouraged in waste collection and transport, provision of disposal facilities and collaboration in the construction of landfills.
Solid Waste Management, A Havoc In Urban Centres