An environmental expert in Migori County now want the Migori County Government to adopt modern methods of waste management to address the increasing problem of garage dumping in Towns and markets.
There is urgent need for the County leadership to come-up with lasting solutions to problems facing solid waste management in urban centers, said the director of Kuria Data Link Mr. Francis Gibai Marwa, who accuse the devolved unit of failing to clean the local environment.
While addressing the press in Kehancha town, Mr. Marwai claimed that the Municipal Boards within the region were sleeping on their jobs to the point that heaps of garbage had become a big threat to the lives of the urban dwellers.
Consequently, these municipals bodies in their respective urban outfits must move to the next level and stop planning forever on how to manage wastes in all the urban set-ups, he stressed.
The official urged the responsible officials to move swiftly and clear the growing piles of garbage that continue to affect the marketplaces across the county.
He criticized the county leadership for allegedly failing to provide quality services to taxpayers despite the collection of millions of shillings in revenue daily from traders.
“You have for a long time stuck to the old ways of collecting garbage hence you have failed to manage the waste in urban setups,” said Marwa.
According to the environmentalist, poor waste management has contributed significantly to environmental degradation in the region.
He also stated that the major causes of pollution include plastic bottle dumping, raw sewage disposal into rivers, and chemical waste from mining areas and oil pollution from local garages.
Mr. Marwa explained that these environmental challenges pose serious health and sanitation risks to residents living near dumping sites and polluted water sources. He added that the unmanaged waste also affects business activities in markets and towns due to foul smell and unhygienic conditions.
The Kuria Data Link Initiative, an environmental organization formed to fight environmental degradation in the region, is now rooting for urgent reforms in waste collection and disposal systems.
The Organization wants the County government to introduce modern waste management mechanisms that would improve efficiency in garbage collection, transportation and disposal.
At the same time, Mr. Marwa advised the County Municipal boards to establish proper systems for safe waste disposal and replace illegal dumping sites with environmentally friendly disposal methods.
“Be serious about cleaning up all illegal dumpsites and replace them with environmentally friendly ones,” said Marwa.
Environmental experts argue that adopting modern waste management technologies cold help reduce pollution and improve public health in the county.
About embracing waste segregation, the director noted that the County government should introduce separation of waste at the sources. Residents and traders should sort garage into; plastic, organic, glass and metal for easy recycling.
The government can also delve seriously in build recycling centers where plastic bottles, papers and metal products can be recycles and reused thus reducing amounts of waste dumped in open space areas.
While maintaining proper disposals, all Illegal dumping within the region should be replaced with designated sanitary landfills that are well managed and located away from residential areas and rivers.
Mwara said that use of modern garbage collection trucks was paramount and that the municipal boards must invest in modern garage trucks fitted with compactors, to collect waste efficiently from markets and towns. Schedule waste collection can prevent overflowing dumpsites, he advised.
There is also need to introduction waste-to-energy technology, which requires the County to adopt modern technology that convert waste into energy such as biogas or electricity. Organic waste from markets can be processed into fuel or manure.
Members of the public must also be subjected to regular awareness campaigns in order to make the local residents and traders privy to proper ways to dispose waste. This, he said, can be realised through media campaigns, schools, churches and public meetings, adding that environmental conservation begins with public responsibility.
Mr. Marwa noted that to enforcement environmental laws, County officials should strict evoke laws that work against illegal dumping and environmental pollution. Individuals and businesses that dispose waste irresponsibly should face severe penalties.
The growing concern over waste disposal in Migori County highlights the urgent need for effective environmental policies and modern garbage management systems. Stakeholders believe that with proper planning and commitment from the county government, towns and markets can become cleaner, safer and more environmentally suitable for residents and traders alike.
By Margaret Vanjelyn and Sharon Kidiga
