Sunyani-Penkwase overwhelmed by poor waste management practices

Sheila Eyram Ofori, the author

Waste management is the complete process of collecting, sorting, processing and safely disposing of garbage so that it does not harm people or the environment. This is a critical aspect of our very existence, as poor management of waste generated has dire health and environmental consequences for the people.

In Penkwase, a major suburb in the Sunyani Municipality, this process appears to have broken down, leading to poor sanitary conditions across the area. Although Sunyani was once adjudged the cleanest city in Ghana, today it is struggling with overflowing waste containers, choked gutters and the indiscriminate disposal of waste. This poor waste management is caused by several factors.

Issues
First is the inadequate provision of waste collection equipment. The Sunyani Municipal Assembly does not have enough waste containers to be placed at vantage points. Moving around Penkwase, I could barely see waste containers or dustbins at vantage points. The few I noticed were an eyesore, to say the least, as they quickly become full and start overflowing as people continue to pile up all kinds of waste materials in them. Even when the containers are full, there are not enough skip-loader trucks to transport them to their final disposal sites.

Another issue of concern is the inability of the city authorities to properly segregate waste generated and dumped at landfill sites and other designated disposal points. This is a major problem in waste management in Penkwase and, indeed, in many parts of the country. Typically, people mix virtually all kinds of waste in one container, irrespective of the repercussions on the environment. Biodegradable waste is mixed with non-biodegradable waste, among others. This is a serious setback to waste management efforts and calls for urgent attention from the Sunyani Municipal Assembly, the Ministry of Local Government and other relevant stakeholders.

I have also observed that the various sanitation by-laws are poorly enforced, leading to gross indiscipline in the waste management chain. Even though the Sunyani Municipal Assembly has sanitation by-laws governing waste disposal, the least said about their enforcement, the better. I therefore call on the city authorities to assert their authority by ensuring strict compliance with the various sanitation by-laws, without fear or favour, to keep the city clean.

Population growth, in my view, has also taken a toll on the situation. As the population of Sunyani continues to grow, more waste is produced; hence, the need for effective mechanisms to deal with sanitation-related issues.

We must note that our inability to effectively deal with this issue could put our lives in serious danger, as it could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera. Mosquitoes would also thrive in insanitary areas, increase in number and continue biting people at night. Malaria cases could therefore continue to rise under such circumstances.

Besides, poor waste management pollutes the environment. When waste is burned, which is common in the Municipality, it releases toxic gases such as dioxins into the air. Plastics block gutters, leading to flooding during the rainy season. Leachate from heaps of rubbish can contaminate soil and groundwater, while untreated human waste can produce foul smells when pit latrines are emptied.

Economic and Social Effects
Poor waste management also has economic and social consequences. Traders say, “We pay levies all the time, but look at what is happening here,” as they sell foodstuffs next to overflowing waste containers.

Just days after President Mahama's Resetting Ghana Tour, during which choked gutters were desilted and waste containers emptied ahead of his visit, the city appeared to have sunk back into filth.

Way forward
There are several possible solutions to the poor waste management situation.

Firstly, there is the need for education and community ownership. Churches, schools, market women and youth groups should be involved in National Sanitation Day exercises. People must be educated on the importance of separating waste at source and discouraged from dumping refuse in gutters.

Secondly, there is a need for the provision of adequate waste collection equipment. Government and non-governmental organisations should support the provision of sufficient waste management equipment to help ensure healthy living conditions.

Lastly, there must be strict enforcement of sanitation by-laws. The Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Ogyeamansan Boahen Korkor II, has warned that anyone caught littering will face punishment. Such warnings must be backed by consistent enforcement to deter people from engaging in indiscriminate disposal of waste.

In conclusion, Penkwase's waste problem is not necessarily due to a lack of knowledge, but rather poor practices, inadequate infrastructure and weak law enforcement. If the Municipality invests in waste management equipment, makes waste collection affordable, enforces its sanitation by-laws and promotes recycling and biodigester toilets, it can reclaim its lost reputation as Ghana's cleanest city.

(The author is a Citizen Journalist in Sunyani)