The impacts of improper waste management in Ekurhuleni City, Gauteng

Introduction

The City of Ekurhuleni is a beautiful city and it has played a major role in ensuring that it’s residents have a right to an environment that is safe and that is not detrimental to their health. When one walks around the streets, they are visibly clean and no waste is usually seen. It goes to show that the Environmental Management department has a good implemented and operational waste management strategy.

However, there are some residents and businesses that insist on the illegal dumping of waste. In most parts of the townships, there are islands and piles of waste that have been improperly discarded. This is not a good practice and it has a number of setbacks.

Problems associated with the illegally dumped waste.

1. Contributes to global warming

When the waste has accumulated in these open dumping sites, the residents tend to burn it. Open burning of waste is not a recommended way of disposal. This is due to the fact that the waste comprises of different classes and some waste contains hydrocarbons and when burnt it contributes to the carbon dioxide and oxides in the atmosphere. For instance, residents burn waste such as car tires that produce toxic fumes that are mutagenic.

2. Results to public nuisance (aesthetics, offensive smell)

Illegal dumping of waste leads to an anesthetic environment. It also results in offensive smells emanating from the dumping site. This leads to public nuisance which is unlawful.

3. Pose health hazards to scavengers

By definition, a scavenger is an animal or person that searches for and collects (anything usable) from discarded waste. People who make a living by collecting waste for recycling purposes are in danger as some of the waste may be hazardous. Worth noting is that most of these people collecting the waste do not use or wear personal protective clothing.

4. Health hazards to children playing under no supervision

Children wander off the streets almost all the time. They might gain access to these piles of waste and they might end up picking up hazardous waste such as used chemical containers. Consequently, this will lead to health implications such as poisoning which could be life-threatening.

5. Water pollution

There are streams of water passing through some townships. These streams are naturally occurring. It is sad because these streams are heavily polluted and this makes it difficult to purify the water for human consumption. Water treatment is an expensive process and the more contaminants are present in the water the more expensive it becomes to treat that water.

6. Results in Malaria outbreaks

Piles of improperly disposed waste provide suitable or conducive sites for mosquitoes production. During the rainy season, the containers collect water and mosquitoes then breed on them which could lead to an influx of mosquitoes.

7. Health hazards to livestock e.g. Cattle, goats

There are a number of residents in townships that farm livestock. The livestock includes cattle, goats, sheep, and other animals. This form of farming is a good way of generating an income and also promote food security. However, poorly discarded waste is a threat to the wellbeing of the livestock. Cattle, for instance, has a tendency of mistaking plastics for food so they end up consuming them. The plastics are a threat to the digestive system of the animals and they end up developing health complications and could also lead to death.

8. System failures include a lack of a comprehensive policy framework for waste management and a shortage of tools to analyze and improve efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability

9. Other obstacles for waste management are connected to under-functioning staff that is not motivated or difficult to find because of low status, low salaries, and difficult working circumstances.

10. Most municipalities do not find it easy to cooperate or communicate with their own citizens, who appear not to be cooperating with the municipality; behavior such as illegal dumping of waste; misuse or non-use of containers; damaging and stealing communal storage containers; and resistance to service charges lead authorities to believe that the citizens are part of the problem, rather than an ingredient of the solution.

In summary, pollution in one part of the city ultimately affects the rest of the city, including its air and water supply. Pollution ‘travels’ in the form of communicable diseases, flies, insects, rats, air, and water pollution.

Corrective action

Some of the corrective measures that could be implemented by officials include the following;

1. Empowering the people with waste management practices

2. Legislation on Waste Management

3. Utilization of Media e.g. local radio stations

4. Provide adequate skips

5. Clean up campaigns

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