TOPIC: THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN EFFECTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste management remains one of the most critical environmental challenges of
our time. With the global population increasing rapidly and consumption patterns
increasing, the amount of waste generated has reached alarming levels. Addressing this
challenge requires active participation from both the government and the citizens.
Collective action by ordinary people can lead to substantial improvements in managing
waste effectively and reducing its negative environmental impact. As citizens we all play
a crucial role in waste management like recycling, educating both ourselves and others,
avoiding littering and assisting the government.
According to Nelson Mandela, Education is the most powerful weapon which you
can use to change the world. In order to change our world, we as citizens can play an
essential role by creating awareness on how waste could be properly managed, and this
can only be done if we that are spreading this information are properly educated on waste
management. By educating family members, friends, and neighbours about the
importance of effective waste management, individuals can create a ripple effect that
encourages a culture of sustainability. For instance, teaching children that waste can be
broadly classified into biodegradable, recyclable, and hazardous. Teaching them that
biodegradable waste, which includes food scraps, garden waste, and other organic
materials that decompose naturally over time, should be disposed of in farm areas to form
compost in order to enrich soil fertility. Recyclable waste, which includes paper, plastics,
metals, and glass, should be arranged appropriately in order to process them into new
products. Lastly, hazardous waste, including batteries, chemicals, and electronic waste,
requires special disposal techniques as they can be harmful if not disposed properly. By
educating the masses on the types of waste and their disposal methods, citizens can
significantly reduce pollution and bring to light the African adage which says “what you
throw away today, may be what you will need tomorrow”.
Recycling plays a significant role in waste management, and citizens’ participation
in this process is vital. It helps us practice an African inspired proverb that says “the
waste of today is the treasure of tomorrow in the hands of the wise”. Recycling promotes
cleanliness, generates additional income, and reduces environmental pollution that might
likely lead to the spread of diseases. To enable effective recycling, individuals must have
to segregate their waste according to their types for easy recycling. In Akwa Ibom State,
some Hausa men, known as "Aboki," wander around to collect discarded iron materials.
These materials are then melted down and used to create new metallic products. Also,
market women reuse containers of bottled water to sell liquid soap, groundnut, and other
materials that need such packaging. Though this generates additional income, they are
crude methods of recycling, and can be improved upon. Citizens can create private
recycling industries so as to enhance proper waste management and improve on financial
benefits. Waste management industry can be a very lucrative aspect of our economy.
Developed countries like Germany, United States, Sweden, and South Korea are
making a lot of money from recycling. Germany has made about seventy billion Euros
(€70,000,000,000) in this year alone, and it is known as one of the cleanest countries
globally. Also in Germany, citizens can make money through a highly effective recycling
program called the Bottle Deposit System (Pfand). Under this system, consumers pay a
deposit of bottles and cans when they purchase beverages. Once the containers are empty,
citizens can return them to reverse vending machines at stores or designated collection
points to get their deposit back. By doing this, both the government and ordinary citizens
gain income while keeping the community clean through proper recycling.
Avoiding littering is another critical responsibility of citizens in waste
management. For instance, it is common in Nigeria for an individual to dump a sachet or
bottle of water by the roadside after drinking. This has led to the blockage of our drainage
systems, leading to flooding during the rainy season. This explains a saying which goes
thus, “the environment is our collective responsibility, when one person pollutes it,
everyone suffers”. Properly disposing of waste in designated bins ensures that public
spaces remain clean and minimizes the chances of facing some difficult challenges. It is
not a responsibility left for the Government but for all. Just like at my school, State
College, Ikot Ekpene where everyone plays a role in keeping the school neat, from the
Principal to the Prefect and even to the youngest student. It is seen as a routine and a
culture to clean up every morning and tidy the environment when it is dirty but proper
waste management would not allow the dirt to accumulate.
Akwa Ibom State has been recognized as the cleanest state in Nigeria. This is due
to the effort of our amiable Governor, Pastor Dr, Umo Eno, who has created an
institutional framework, through the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection And
Waste Agency (AKSPEWMA). This institution implements policies and oversees waste
management, so citizens can play an important role by adhering and following their
policies. Also citizens can create private institutions to control waste management. With
the regular sanitation and consistent sanitizing of our roads we have been recognized by
many as a notable state for cleanliness. We can advance these steps by enforcing a
change per street, ensuring sanitation is done and by changing the culture of dumping dirt
everywhere to help this Government make the state a better and well sanitized home.
In conclusion, the role of citizens in effective waste management cannot be
overstated. Individuals have numerous opportunities to make meaningful contributions.
By taking responsibility for our actions and encouraging others to do the same, citizens
can help address the global waste crisis, reduce environmental degradation, and create a
cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come. With our little actions, diseases
like malaria, typhoid, cholera will not spread at the rate it is going, flooding will
drastically reduce and every area will attain the freshness and neatness that it so deserves.
Name: Uforo, Samuel Uforo
Class: SS2A
School: State College, Ikot Ekpene
