ADDIS ABABA – Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission said it is set to organize national public awareness campaign on solid waste disposal with a bid to modernize waste management and ensure human health and environmental safety.
Tesfaye Gashaw, Public Relations Director at the Commission told The Ethiopian Herald that poor solid waste disposal system has become a major challenge for public and environmental safety.
Low-level awareness has been the major challenge of the sector in addition to inaccessibility of innovative technologies, illegal dumping, poor condition of waste management and recycling system, as well as lack of private sector and community involvement, according to the Director.
The operational system of solid waste treatment institutions is not competent yet in terms of manpower and modern services delivery. During the national campaign which will commence soon, the due emphasis would be given to the capital Addis Ababa and Oromia state where most factories are located, Tesfaye said. A lot of effort is needed to raise the public’s awareness and put in place an effective mechanism of separation of solid wastes for recycling and utilization.
Moreover, it is also important to implement strict legal measures to improve the situation. For instance, four leather producers in Modjo town that had been releasing a dangerous pollutant residue to the town have been closed. So far, Hawassa, Bahir Dar, and Nazareth cities have performed well in terms of better solid waste management.
And effective public awareness-raising campaigns are believed to bring about a remarkable change in terms of public health and environmental safety. Ethiopia has been implementing national environmental safety and protection policy to protect natural resources from damages.
The Ethiopian Herald, February 28/2019
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
