NAN-AE-3
Waste
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Feb. 8, 2017 (NAN) Society for the Promotion of People’s Rights, an NGO, says proper waste management in Nigeria can generate revenue to foster the nation’s economic growth.
Mr Williams Osaze, the President of the NGO, said this while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja
He also said that the adoption of appropriate waste management procedures in Nigeria would enhance the nation’s development and promote environmental health in the society.
According to him, proper waste management practices can be a veritable source of income and employment generation in the country.
“It is important to educate Nigerians on proper waste management; it is also necessary to let them know that it is a source of income.
“We can start the process by using the `reduce, repair and recycle’ approach.
“Recyclable waste can be collected from residences, markets, institutions of learning, places of hospitality and event venues for the purpose of selling them to processing companies as raw materials.
“The aim is to create income and employment for poor people; this can also facilitate the development of our country,” he said.
Osaze said that waste recycling would also keep garbage from piling up in landfill sites.
According to him, recycling of waste is a process of collecting and using materials, which otherwise could have been discarded, as raw materials in the manufacture of new products.
He listed plastic bottles of all types, plastic bags, including pure water sachets, cellophane wrappers, toilet papers and bread wrappers, among others, as valuable recyclable items.
Osaze said that old newspapers, cartons, cardboards, aluminium and steel cans as well as banners were also waste materials which could be converted to natural resources, from which wealth could be generated.
“Other countries have succeeding in managing their waste and harnessing the vast resources existing therein; Nigeria can equally succeed in doing same.
“What we need to focus on is how to ensure proper and effective implementation of modern waste management techniques.
“The only way to apply this practice in the country is for us to be disciplined and committed in our waste management processes, while working with the right and experienced people.
“My advice to Nigerians is that they should embrace proper waste management practices because they are a potential money spinner which can enhance development in our country,’’ he said.
Osaze, who is an environmental expert, said that waste recycling was the best way to dispose of those waste items which could take a long time to decompose.
He said that plastic bags, often used in everyday life, could take between 10 years and 20 years to decompose, while plastic bottles could take roughly 450 years to moulder.
He also said that glass bottles could take more than 1,000 years to decompose, aluminium cans could take over 150 years, while tin cans could last for over 50 years in waste landfills before decomposing completely.
“On the other hand, newspapers and other light papers take up to six weeks to decompose,’’ he said.
“Meanwhile more than 40 per cent of the waste we generate could be recycled into useful products within hours,’’ he added. (NAN)
VOE/HAS/OOK
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Edited By Hajia Sani and Dayo Komolafe