Earth Day: Environmentalists call for sustainable waste management

The Oyo State Government, has called on residents to contribute their quota in the ongoing efforts to ensure sustainable waste management.

This is contained in a statement by issued in Ibadan the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, on Saturday.

He quoted the Chairman, Oyo State Waste Task Force, Mrs Adedayo Aderonke, as making the call, during a Webinar in commemoration of 2023 World Earth Day.

Speaking on the theme “Sustainable Waste Management: Investing in our planet for a cleaner future”, Adedayo was quoted as expressing concern at the degradation of the earth through indiscriminate waste disposal by humans.

She said the State government was determined to address waste management chain in the state.

Adedayo said government had constructed roads which had resulted led which has reduced food wastage arising from road accidents and long hours spent on road.

“The Oyo State Government has ensured construction of roads leading to the northern part of the State, (Oke-Ogun), because that is where food items are produced.

“By doing this, there is a massive reduction in food loss, and in the next 2-3 years, food will get to consumers quicker,” she said.

According to her, some of the uncoordinated human activities which have inflicted serious damage on the earth included, indiscriminate disposal of wastes, and high intensity of fossil fuel among other factors.

She implored the citizenry to imbibe the spirit of going green by planting flowers which she said would help in protecting the environment.

In his presentation, Mr Abimbola Gbenjo, an environmentalist, implored Ibadan residents to use appropriate waste containers during waste disposal.

Mr Emmanuel Ola-Olawoyo, another participant at the webinar said humans were responsible for most of the global climate challenges due to their poor waste management.

He added such poor practices had manifested in rising temperature and other related climate crisis.

Ola-Olawoyo commended the Oyo Government for changing the narratives and taking bold steps to end indiscriminate waste disposal in the state.

Seun Fasuhanmi, Mottainai’s Chief Operating Officer, a waste management consulting firm said that Public Private Partnership would bring about rapid development in the waste management scheme in Oyo state.

Fasuhanmi urged the legislative arm and all other actors in the environment sector to pursue laws and resolutions that would save the earth by reducing unnecessary carbon emission activities, among others.