‘Open Burning Of Refuse Dangerous’

Residents of Ahoada in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State have expressed worry over the open burning of refuse in the area which has compounded the hamattan haze in the town and its environs.

A cross section of residents who spoke to our correspondent put the blame on the Local Government Council authority on the political will of handling refuse disposal matters.

According to Paul Nnodim, in the history of Ahoada, no administration has ever come up with a policy of waste disposal system.

He said this has led to indiscriminate dumping of refuse within the Ahoada metropolis and its environs especially across the old bridge, the main area were refuse was burnt openly during the dry season.

Investigations by our correspondent confirmed that across the old bridge leading to the Government Girls Secondary School, Ahoada, huge amounts of refuse was smouldering.

The Tide findings further confirmed that at night, residents were uncomfortable as smoke from the refuse filled the air coupled with the hamattan haze.

Efforts to speak with the councilor in-charge of environment, Hon MacDonald Akujuru proved abortive as he was said to be out of town.

However, Prof Ndowa Lale of the University of Port Harcourt who commented on the practice in an interview with our correspondent said the practice was dangerous.

He said the offensive odour which emanates from the burning refuse was dangerous to health.

Prof Lale explained that all manner of things are dumped in those sites and since we do not have a process of separating waste, dangerous chemicals are built up in those places.

“When you burn, you pollute the air, the odour from these burning are dangerous to out health,” he said.

The professor of Animal and Environmental Biology said in civilized societies refuse was not burnt openly rather incinerators were used to prevent human inhalation of the bad odours.

He described the development as a dangerous practice even as he blamed the various governments for not living up to their responsibilities in the management of waste.

“It is a dangerous practice and we are all doing it because the government is not responsible and responsive to our demand,” he said.