An environmentalist, Mr
Emma Johnson has said that waste that is not properly managed could create serious health and social problems in any given community.
Mr Johnson, who is  the Editor of Environmental news, a quarterly publication of the Nigerian Environmental society, NES, in a release made available to our correspondent said poor waste management could lead to pests and disease and poison, pollution, human waste and diseases among others.
He said food waste attracts pests and vermin like feral pigs and rats, which could start and spread disease in the community.
According to him, piles of old garden waste and pieces of old furniture left in yards could shelter vermin and help them to breed.
He said dengue fever can be spread by mosquitoes that breed in anything that hold water like abandoned typres, litter and even palm frond lying on the ground.
Explaining the possibility of pollution and poisoning, Mr Johnson said illegally dumped pesticides, spent motor oil and other chemicals could contaminate land, creeks and water supplies and people drinking or swimming in polluted water could get sick.
He stressed the importance of keeping human waste out of water supplies even as he said if not properly kept it could find their way into the local water supplies from leaking septic tanks.
On the social and economic problems he said people could get sick from badly managed waste if there was need for them to leave the community to spend time in hospital as both patient and family could be affected by such separation.
“If waste is managed well, the cost of fixing problems does not become a burden on family and government”, he said.

Some people in Imoren Community scooping fuel from the creek at the site of the petrol spillage in Lagos, recently.