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24th November, 2011
TOWARDS EFFECTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE management is one of the greatest challenges facing mankind in modern times, in spite of the numerous technological achievements that have been well documented.
But then, technology has not been able to effectively control waste generated in communities, worldwide.
Recent events in major urban centres in Africa, have shown that the problem of waste management has become a monster and hindering efforts of city authorities and governments to have clean and healthy environments.
A visit to some towns and cities in Ghana, reveals problems such as heaps of uncontrolled refuse, polythene bags and disposal sites posing health hazards to the residents near them.
The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) whose duty it is, to see to the proper and effective management of the environment, are overwhelmed by the magnitude of waste in their districts.
They complain that the necessary tools and vehicles to facilitate waste disposals are not available for that purpose, hence the poor environmental sanitation in their districts.
Perhaps, it is in view of this shortcoming that the government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management organisation, has decided to equip the MMDAs with 700 waste collection trucks and other equipment to clear the refuse which has piled up in the districts.
The trucks and equipment, which are expected to also serve, all the private waste management companies in the country, are expected to enhance their capacity to deliver higher services in their respective areas.
The Local Government Minister, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who inaugurated the fleet of trucks, announced that the government had secured an 11 million-dollar grant from the Exim Bank of India to procure more equipment by the end of the year, to further enhance the capacity of the MMDAs.
While applauding Zoomlion for their tremendous role in waste disposal in the country, we hope that the various efforts by the government to build the capacity of the MMDAs to manage waste, would yield positive results.
It is a fact that the improper management of waste, has contributed to the occasional floods during rainy seasons, and their attendant deaths.
The situation is a major problem to the government, since huge sums of money have to be spent to clear the debris as well as assist flood victims.
We hope that more resources would be channelled into waste management to keep the environment clean and safe.
But then, technology has not been able to effectively control waste generated in communities, worldwide.
Recent events in major urban centres in Africa, have shown that the problem of waste management has become a monster and hindering efforts of city authorities and governments to have clean and healthy environments.
A visit to some towns and cities in Ghana, reveals problems such as heaps of uncontrolled refuse, polythene bags and disposal sites posing health hazards to the residents near them.
The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) whose duty it is, to see to the proper and effective management of the environment, are overwhelmed by the magnitude of waste in their districts.
They complain that the necessary tools and vehicles to facilitate waste disposals are not available for that purpose, hence the poor environmental sanitation in their districts.
Perhaps, it is in view of this shortcoming that the government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management organisation, has decided to equip the MMDAs with 700 waste collection trucks and other equipment to clear the refuse which has piled up in the districts.
The trucks and equipment, which are expected to also serve, all the private waste management companies in the country, are expected to enhance their capacity to deliver higher services in their respective areas.
The Local Government Minister, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who inaugurated the fleet of trucks, announced that the government had secured an 11 million-dollar grant from the Exim Bank of India to procure more equipment by the end of the year, to further enhance the capacity of the MMDAs.
While applauding Zoomlion for their tremendous role in waste disposal in the country, we hope that the various efforts by the government to build the capacity of the MMDAs to manage waste, would yield positive results.
It is a fact that the improper management of waste, has contributed to the occasional floods during rainy seasons, and their attendant deaths.
The situation is a major problem to the government, since huge sums of money have to be spent to clear the debris as well as assist flood victims.
We hope that more resources would be channelled into waste management to keep the environment clean and safe.
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