The Lagos Waste Management Authority has advised Lagos residents to desist from engaging cart pushers to dispose of waste but embrace appropriate waste management procedures.

The Director of Medical Services, Health, and Safety at LAWMA, Modupe Okoh, gave the advice on Thursday in Lagos.

Ms Okoh, who encouraged residents to engage the private sector participation—PSP LAWMA operators—to dispose of waste, said that cart pushers often did not properly dispose of waste materials.

She said that the cart pushers often dispose of waste in drains, thereby blocking drainage channels and giving room for floods, which invariably contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera.

According to her, proper waste management is key to preventing both surface and underground water supply pollution to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of some diseases, including cholera, in society.

She said, “Every action that we take affects us and our neighbours in one way or another. Residents should ensure they practise the proper waste management processes—ensuring that you containerise the waste from the point of generation and engage the right LAWMA-registered PSP operators to move the waste. This is because if you don’t do that, you may think it is cheaper to patronise the cart pushers, but they actually do not dispose of the waste properly. Some of them dispose of the waste in the drains, which block the drains, leading to flooding. With flooding too, infectious diseases increase when there’s a lot of flooding because there’s a lot of pollution.’’

She also urged people to engage in the right washing practices, which include constantly washing one’s hands, personal hygiene, and storing and disposing of waste properly.

“Once we can have prompt and effective waste management, we can actually prevent the surface and underground water from being polluted. But if there is a breakdown in waste management, then the water surface can be polluted and can lead to the spread of waterborne infections such as cholera,” Ms Okoh said.

Ms Okoh noted that waterborne diseases, including cholera, could be prevented with proper personal and environmental hygiene.

She, therefore, urged the public to embrace good hygiene practices and ensure proper disposal of waste to safeguard the environment.

Ms Okoh also underscored the importance of the residents familiarising themselves with their PSPs, who played a vital role in waste management at different levels.

She explained that, by understanding and engaging with the designated PSP operators, residents could ensure efficient and effective waste disposal services in their communities. 

(NAN)