By Obiabin Onukwugha
Climate Africa Media Initiative Centre (CAMIC) has highlighted several alternative methods that can be employed to dispose waste effectively and sustainably so as to tackle environmental pollution in Nigeria.
CAMIC, an environmental advocacy body is committed to promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly waste management practices.
The body has therefore, expressed concern over the detrimental effects of burning and indiscriminate patterns of disposing waste by individuals and households.
The body in a statement signed by its Chief Growth Officer, Pius Alabi in Abuja on Thursday, said proper recycling of waste involves processing materials that would otherwise become waste into new products.
CAMIC in the statement, encouraged communities and businesses to adopt recycling programs for materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and metals.
It further emphasized that organic waste, such as food scraps and yard waste, can be composted to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
“Composting not only reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills but also enriches the soil, enhances water retention, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. CAMIC advocates for the adoption of composting practices both at the household and community levels,” the statement read in part..
It further stated that adopting waste-to-energy technologies can convert non-recyclable waste materials into usable forms of energy, such as electricity, heat, or fuel.
“Using controlled combustion or other thermal processes, reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills while generating energy.
“For waste that is already in landfills, landfill gas recovery systems can capture methane emissions for use as an energy source. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and capturing it for energy use helps mitigate climate change.
“Mechanical biological treatment combines mechanical sorting with biological treatment processes to separate recyclable materials and treat organic waste. This method can significantly reduce the amount of waste destined for landfills and produce biogas and compost as valuable by-products. CAMIC supports the implementation of MBT facilities as part of an integrated waste management system.
“Education and community engagement are crucial for the successful adoption of alternative waste disposal methods,” the statement added.
CAMIC is a non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability and combating climate change.