Since the beginning of time, people have always devised a way of disposing their trash. It is imperative to note that proper waste disposal is important to ensure safety of life and avoid possible health hazards.
Indiscriminate waste disposal is an improper way or manner by which individuals and organizations get rid of their trash. These practices include dumping refuse by the roadside, along streets, on major roads, as well as in the various rivers.
Solid waste generation has greatly improved to an uncontrollable rate in the society, this happens due to daily human activities.
Due to inadequate waste disposal methods, dumping of refuse in unauthorized places is now the order of the day. Overpopulation, industrial revolution and urbanization have become major causes of waste generation as well as improper waste disposal.
Lack of appropriate storage facilities, unavailability of proper waste management and planning,wrong perception by residents and nonchalant attitude toward the environment cleaning and sanitation, is also a cause of this indiscriminate waste disposal.
The problem of indiscriminate waste disposal has brought so much pain and ills to the environment and society at large. We can point to the outbreak of various epidemics, infectious diseases, and other human environmental degradation such as flooding, drainage obstruction and waterway blockages in most parts of our county like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, etc. It has been noted that heaps of trash are virtually in all market areas, on the streets and even by the roadside; and these wastes remain there for many weeks without devising any means of waste collection either by private individuals or the government. Some areas have also been abandoned when inspections are going on by the government, or even during environmental sanitation. I assume such attitude is an act of negligence on the part of waste disposal agencies or the ministry of environment.
Waste management and indiscriminate waste disposal and checkmating of the activities of persons who dispose waste products in an improper way, must be done from the grass root level. It is a joint effort from both the government an citizens of the nation and this must start from the house hold and family.
Government should focus on collection of waste products from households. They should encourage homes and individuals to bag their waste in plastic bags as this would help to avoid littering.
Most people drop biscuit sachets, cans, bottles and water sachets by the roadside while driving in cars, and on highways; that is why the government should move faster to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.
There should be adequate financing for each state to support and help them in waste disposal projects. Waste bins must be placed in strategic areas on the streets and in communities for effective garbage collection.
Illiteracy and low level of education is another factor that can constrain the thinking of most citizens. For instance, in places such like GRA, Victoria Island, and other known places where the supposed educated elite reside, and do daily business, the activities of inadequate waste disposal or improper refuse dumping is barely seen or is at the lowest because they know the dangers of the act and how dirty their environment can be. But in the places where the average or low class citizens live, littering is higher. Therefore, proper sensitization and advocacy programmes should be carried out to educate the general public on why they should desist from dumping waste indiscriminately.
The government should also encourage individuals who set up private waste collection agencies by reducing taxes paid also workers of the ministry of environment. Those who take part in cleaning these waste from the roadside from time to time, should be encouraged by increasing their take home pay. This would enable them see the work as a responsibility and thereby curb nonchalance.
Laws and sanctions should be made and enforced to discourage persons who engage in indiscriminate waste disposal. Persons could be arrested and prosecuted by a court if they flout orders. Fines can also be imposed depending on the magnitude of default by anyone who is caught.
Apart from all these measures, government should also encourage practice such as recycling of industrial waste products such as cans, bottles, papers, clothes, etc. Also, biowaste products which include those materials that can degrade such as food items, leaves, banana peels should be biologically turned into manure and fertilizers.
This is why the government should set up recycling agencies and also monitor the collection of this waste to avoid improper disposal.
Unlawful solid waste dumping in the society must be stopped or, at least, checkmated. There is an urgent need for government and private stakeholders to implement policies to prevent the littering of waste in the environment. Human health and the environment need to be safe guarded from unsustainable conditions which are caused by indiscriminate waste disposal in our society.
Government alone should not be left with the responsibility of checking indiscriminate waste disposal. Also it is the duty of every organization and individual to take it upon themselves to keep the environment healthy and clean.
Dennar wrote from Port Harcourt.

Ngozi Dennar