Posted by By: Alieu Jallow
Dr. Nfamara K Dampha a Gambian- US base environmental expert who works for the World Bank Technical Team as a Consultant said the Gambia needs a sustainable and integrated waste management policy at the highest level of authority to address the country’s waste crisis.
Over the years, the issue of waste generation and management have been a major concern streaming a number of towns and settlements in the Gambia, KMC specifically. The hitches of waste generation and management in most cities especially in developing countries have become one of the intractable environmental problems. Indiscriminate dumping continues to be a public nuisance within Kanifing Municipality. The situation could be attributed to the low level of technology to handle the high rate of waste generation and as well lack of public awareness on waste management by inhabitants.
An average 0.44kg of waste is generated by each person daily, going by this estimate 142 metric tons are generated daily in Kanifing Municipality council. The council does not have the resources or capacity to effectively handle the high amount of waste generated thus a call for a need for a sustainable and integrated waste policy.
Speaking to this reporter, Dr. Nfamara K. Dampha, said the government needs to have a sustainable and an integrated waste management policy and strategy and bring waste management at the forefront of its political agenda. This he said also lingers on all politicians to give lots of priority in sustainable waste management which is a societal problem.
Dr. Dampha described the waste management as a developmental challenge and a byproduct of industrialisation. He added that no society can grow without generating waste .
Dr. Dampha emphasised that there should be absolute need for investment and the private sector should be allowed to invest in waste management infrastructure. He calls for the need to invest in civil society and support organisations in communities that partake in waste management works.
“Integrated and sustainable approach will guide us as a country to minimise the indiscriminate dumping of trash, litter and other unwanted stuff in our community. This is a simple equation everybody has a role in”, Dr. Dampha said.
Dr. Dampha pointed out that the waste sector contributes to about 3% of greenhouse gases that are emitted at the global level. In the Gambia, this sector, he said, would be one of the leading causes of emissions of greenhouse gases.
“In the Gambia, the amount of waste generated as a society will continue to increase and perhaps will double by 2050 given the population growth of the country as a country”, said Dr. Dampha