Use bins for rubbish, not Water storage

Zoomlion has called on residents across the country to use waste bins strictly for rubbish disposal, cautioning that the misuse of sanitation equipment is worsening waste management challenges and contributing to flooding in some communities.

The company’s representative for the municipality, Alfred Akrong, lamented on how some residents have resorted to using waste bins for purposes other than waste disposal, including storing water and other household items, despite the bins being provided to improve sanitation.

Speaking to Channel One TV on Saturday, July 11, during the second day of the National General Cleaning exercise, Mr Akrong said improper waste disposal remains one of the major sanitation challenges in the municipality.

According to him, the lack of proper waste management practices among some residents has resulted in large quantities of refuse being dumped into drains, which eventually obstruct water flow and worsen flooding during heavy rains.

“Largely, it is solid waste. The problem here is that because most of them don’t have the receptacle to manage their waste, we find out that a lot of it ends up in the drains. When it rains, it washes into the drain,” he explained.

Mr Akrong noted that although public education on sanitation has been ongoing, there is a need to complement awareness campaigns with strict enforcement of sanitation regulations to ensure residents comply with proper waste disposal practices.

“When you give them bins, they should use their bins for what purpose it was given. You shouldn’t realise that bins have been taken and they are putting water, storing other things into it. That is largely what we see here, and we are looking at changing that narrative,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zoomlion has increased its logistics support for the clean-up exercise in Ayawaso East following the large volumes of waste generated during the activity.

Mr Akrong disclosed that an additional tipper truck had been deployed to assist with the evacuation of refuse, ensuring that waste collected from communities is not left along roadsides.

The National General Cleaning exercise, which entered its second day on Saturday, July 11, is being undertaken across seven flood-affected regions as part of government’s efforts to improve sanitation, clear blocked drains and reduce the risk of future flooding following the June 29 floods.