Gov’t urged to get tough on companies over waste management

Government has been urged to come up with a levy against companies that manufacture items that are complicating waste management so that the funds can be used to support cities in managing waste.

“We have realized that one of the problems facing waste management is lack of a policy to help the country manage and define how to manage waste. We have domestic, industrial and medical waste but whereas we have a law that prohibits use of polythene bags of a certain millimeter, it is not implemented currently and has exacerbated the challenge of waste management,” said Dr. Evelyn Aketch, the sub-regional secretary at Public Services International.

Dr.Aketch was speaking during a function where public sector workers in Uganda inspected the working conditions of waste workers in Mbale City .

She noted that it is high time  came up with a national policy that focuses on waste management as a national challenge but also enforce the ban on  polythene bags below 30 microns.

“For example in Mbale, 90% of the waste is as a result of polythene bags. This is a challenge because they cannot be recycled but also block the drainage system and enhancing challenges of flooding. Something needs to be done to avert the crisis.”

“There is need for a law that governs proper waste management in this country. It is the new gold that if managed well, a lot of products can come out of waste. The law will also help regulate how private actors will be engaged and hope it should levy a certain amount of money for the big waste generators.”

Dr.Aketch cited an example of manufacturers of polythene bags, bottles whom she said ought to pay some fee that would be used to help in waste management.

During the fuction, the different workers’ unions including; the local government workers’ union, Uganda Public Employees’ Union that represents electricity workers, and also Uganda Electric Allied Workers’ Union that represents workers within electricity donated personal protective gears including 80 overalls with reflectors and gloves to garbage collectors in Mbale.