The Delta Waste Management Board says it has evolved a new policy of waste management in a bid to make the state cleaner and safer.

The Chairman of the Board, Mr Solomon Golley, told newsmen in Asaba that the old ways had not helped in combating refuse management.

“So we are embarking on a policy of arresting refuse at the point of generation by providing special cellophane bags for every household,’’ he said.

He said the new policy would be done in partnership with Private Sector Participants. (PSP), as the refuse generated by each household would be carted by the PSP.

The board chairman further said that for the new policy to be effective, each household would be placed in a zone, with Asaba split into 34 zones.

He said that each zone would be given to a PSP to handle and if there was problem, the PSP would be held responsible.

Golley also said that compliance with the new policy was compulsory as defaulters would be charged to a special mobile court.

He said a taskforce would also be set up to work with security agencies in ensuring compliance.

“This is because the PSP cannot work effectively without the taskforce and knowing the attitude of the people of  Delta, they will not want to comply”.

“This is because they do not want to spend money to register with a PSP,’’ he said, adding that the board had embarked on a sensitisation campaign.

He explained that provision of dumpsites was a major challenge as the existing ones were makeshifts.

“But as for the equipment, the Delta Government has graciously approved some money to get some”.

“As I speak to you, some of the equipment are already in the Lagos port,’’ the board chairman said.

While calling on all stakeholders to rise to their responsibilities in waste management, he pointed out that it was the statutory function of the local government councils to collect refuse.

He, however, observed that the councils had abandoned such to the board.