Nema issues warning on dumping in urban centres

Vihiga residents engage in a clean-up exercise of Mbale Town. [Brian Kisanji, Standard]

The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has issued a warning to traders and locals against dumping of garbage in major towns and market centres.

Some trading centres like Mbale, Majengo and Chavakali have reported increased cases of garbage dumping along the streets.

The Authority has now rolled out a drive to sensitise the locals on responsible waste disposal after complaints that the towns have been experiencing flooding due to blockage of the drainage system by garbage.

Vihiga County NEMA director Hesborn Monda called on stakeholders in the county to promote sustainable waste management practices to avert the mess.

Mr Monda, who made the announcement during a clean-up activity at Mbale town, said the Authority values the importance of collective action in safeguarding the environment.

"Mbale town in the recent past has had a lot of garbage and today we have decided to involve stakeholders like college students, human rights groups and traders in the clean-up exercise," he said.

Monda said they would thoroughly enforce the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, which brings about a significant shift in the way producers, brand owners, importers, distributors, packers, refillers, and converters engage with the environment.

NEMA warned that it would not hesitate to impose bans on products and packaging that prove to be detrimental to the environment once they reach the post-consumer stage.

Some traders in Mbale, however, feel the county government has failed in its role of garbage collection. They said the town has no dustbins and the collection of the garbage has not been frequent.

"We cannot be blamed entirely as traders, we have no dustbins and a designated dumping site," said Mary Kanguha, a fruit vendor.

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