Growing up as a child I learnt that there are three ways of pollution; air, water and soil pollution. To prevent these types of pollution, the society through teachers has played its role to inform and encourage environmental protection, however, the reality is that waste management has proved to be a bigger challenge. Despite the efforts put to recycle waste, more and more is continuously generated presenting humans with environmental hazards such as diseases (respiratory and waterborne like cholera) that affect a good number of people.
A visit to Dandora dumping site, one of the largest in the world, welcomes you with all manner of wastes from industries, hospitals, supermarkets, hotels, shops and households. The waste comprises of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials where people in the informal settlements earn a living through sorting of waste and selling items that are worth a shilling or take to recycling plants where they are paid. The dumpsite was declared a health hazard back in 2015 yet waste has been dumped there since then. To curb the challenge of waste management, the efforts to recycle waste must be tripled so as to keep up with the waste from the growing population. This is because major cities which include; Nairobi county that hosts about four million people generates 3200 tons of waste daily, Mombasa with a population of close to one million generates 750 tons while Kisumu generates about 400 tons daily.
The waste generated by Kenyans on a daily basis is more than what the recycling plants can recycle hence there is need to deal with waste in Kenya. During the rainy season, the waste brings along various challenges ranging from clogged drainage and sewers, waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea and malaria threatening livelihood especially of those residing in informal settlements.
The responsibility of waste management rests with all of us beginning from our houses where most of it is generated. As we make our purchases in markets and shops let us separate the waste that which is biodegradable and that which is non-biodegradable. This ensures the garbage collectors have an easier time managing the waste. Secondly, in most urban areas litter bins have been provided and further been labelled, making use of these facilities will do us good and save us from diseases and foul air. Thirdly, while the local authorities have a responsibility in managing waste, this effort should be complimented by citizens through cooperation in recycling and disposing of waste. Also, the efforts that recycling plants have put need to be applauded. As we purpose to manage our waste we should remember; Humanity cannot live without nature but nature can live without humanity.