An expert in environmental engineering in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Dr. Alexander Akor has flawed alleged plans by the state government to handover waste management to local government councils.

Dr. Akor, who is also the Regional Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers, South-South, gave the charge in an exclusive chat with The Tide in his office in Port Harcourt.

He suggested that rather than handing over waste management to local councils, the state government should supervise them in the area of generating revenue from wastes.

For him, the state government should continue the management of wastes in terms of policy directions and implementation.

Dr. Akor, while frowning at the poor waste management policy in the state, said the authorities should barrow a leaf from the Lagos State Government, since there are a lot of resources in solid wastes.

For instance, he explained, the state can explore the area of solid wastes recyclement by producing briquettes, which, according to him, are alternative energy products.

Briquettes, he insisted, are byproducts recycled wastes product, that can be used as energy source, saying that “there are countries in this world that do not have oil but import briquettes”.

Beside their usefulness as energy source, Dr. Akor noted that they can check deforestation, since the people would reduce their reliance on firewood.

Proffering ways on managing wastes at the local and coastal areas of the state, the environmental expert submitted that government should introduce waste selection at the rural level.

By introducing waste selection at the local level, he maintained that it is one way to reduce pollution of water sources which he said is responsible for the declining level of fishing in those areas.