Waste Recycling: Edo Govt. urges residents to sort waste before disposal

The Edo Waste Management Board has urged residents of the state to endeavour to separate biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable type before disposal.

 The General Manager of the board, Mr Sami Igodan, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Sunday.

 Igodan said that separation of the two types would enhance waste recycling in the state.

 Biodegradable waste can be easily broken down or decompose while non-biodegradable waste such as plastic materials, metal and bottle, cannot be broken down or decompose into the soil.

 He said that the State Government had flagged off a new campaign on waste management aimed at educating the residents on how to sort waste before disposing it at dump sites.

 “We want residents to have two different types of bags in their houses for refuse collection.

 “Biodegradable waste should be put in a separate bag while non- biodegradable waste should be put in another bag.

 “This will make for ease identification of the non biodegradable waste that can be recycled into other useful products,” he said.

 The general manager told NAN that over 5, 000 tons of refuse was generated monthly in the state on any environmental sanitation day.

 Igodan said that the quantity was huge and advised that residents should help reduce the tonnage by selling some of the waste to persons who needed them or recycle same.

 ‘’Most times, individuals who recycle waste in the state had to go to dump sites to sort out recyclable materials manually,” he said.

 He added that the state government was working out modalities to procure waste-sorting machine to enhance recycling. (NAN)