BEACON Calls for Daily Waste Management to Protect Business Communities.
ABUJA — The BEACON of Transformative and Inclusive Development Center has called on Nigerians, businesses and community stakeholders to make environmental cleanliness a continuous responsibility, warning that poor waste management can undermine public health, infrastructure and the safety of commercial communities.
The Kaduna-based non-governmental organisation made the call ahead of World Cleanup Day, observed globally on September 20.
The Executive Director of The BEACON, Mrs Abigail Olatunde, said environmental sanitation should go beyond periodic cleanup campaigns, stressing that lasting improvement requires individuals and organisations to adopt responsible waste-management practices as part of their everyday activities.
She noted that improperly discarded plastics, bottles and other materials can find their way into drainage systems, increasing the risk of flooding and contributing to the degradation of water and soil.
Olatunde’s position also highlights the economic dimension of environmental management, as flooding, blocked drainage systems and unsanitary surroundings can disrupt commercial activities, affect access to business premises and create unhealthy conditions for workers, customers and residents.
She therefore encouraged businesses to reduce avoidable waste, reuse materials where practicable, separate recyclable materials where appropriate facilities exist and ensure that refuse is disposed of through approved channels.
The Executive Director also called for improved waste-collection infrastructure, adequate disposal facilities, sustained environmental awareness campaigns and effective enforcement of sanitation regulations.
According to her, government institutions, businesses, civil society organisations and communities all have roles to play in promoting cleaner and more resilient urban environments.
The NGO maintained that the significance of World Cleanup Day should extend beyond the physical removal of waste, providing an opportunity for individuals and organisations to reconsider how waste is generated, handled and disposed of.
For businesses, sustained attention to environmental cleanliness can contribute to safer workplaces, more attractive commercial districts and greater resilience against disruptions associated with poor sanitation and flooding.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
