Alocal sanitation and environmental health group is calling on Liberians, especially those living in Monrovia and Paynesville, to desist from using the streets and city centers of these two cities as garbage bins, noting that the garbage doesn’t only deface the city, but poses serious environmental threats to residents of the areas.
The Siescott Group Inc. (SGI), observed that the stockpile of dirt, mostly plastic and other solid waste, in Monrovia and Paynesville, has the propensity of causing harm to our physical habitats, as it transports chemical pollutants, threatens aquatic life, and interferes with our use of other facilities, a danger to our rivers, as well as other marine and coastal environments.
“Disposing of trash in the streets causes serious harm to the environment, soils and domestic animals, and as well to ourselves. We should find proper means of getting rid of garbage instead of just throwing them anywhere we find vacant,” Scott cautioned.
Montserrado County’s two major cities, Monrovia and Paynesville, are engulfed with mountains of garbage sites, mostly in their populated commercial centers such as the Waterside Market in central Monrovia, Red Light Market in Paynesville, Duala and Gorbachop Markets on the Bushrod Island, Police Academy Junction on the Du-Port Road, the Palm Grove Cemetery on Center Street, and other parts of the two cities.
According to Scott, every resident of the community should see it as a duty to keep their environment clean, which by extension, will promote proper sanitary practice and a good and healthy community.
“It pains me to see people who should be helping to keep the city clean, throwing dirt in the very street,” he charged.
He said, “Dirt is an avoidable problem, and we all have a responsibility to help address the issue. We cannot afford to take our dirt in our communities granted. Our actions, or inaction as citizens, to fight dirt affect all of us and will have an impact on generations that follow us.”
Waste management across businesses varies, depending on industries and type of waste.
He averred that the collection of general rubbish from the streets or pavements in and around communities and city centers should not left with designated authority, but, “All of us for our own good.”
He noted that street cleaning is not restricted to cutting grass and sweeping, but to clean and remove paper, cardboard, cigarette packets and ends, cans and bottles made of glass, plastic or metal, dog waste, dead leaves and “everything that looks like dirt or may make the lace look dirty.
“There are a variety of things we can do to ensure our streets, towns, cities, and countryside stay clean and hygienic for everyone,” he advised.
He said, “We must dispose of rubbish responsibly by putting them at designated garbage disposal sites. We should not use our drainages for dump sites.”
The SGI boss accused some people living in central Monrovia of using the drainage and sewage systems to dispose of solid waste including non-disposable items including metals, kennel, chaffs as well as stones.
“Can you imagine people flushing palm seeds and chaffs in their commode. How do you expect such thing to dissolve. So, for the poor sanitation of this place, I blame the people living here. They should stop throwing their dirt just anywhere see,” he said.
The Siescott Group Inc., is one of the local sanitation organizations that is cleaning up Monrovia and its environs ahead of the January 22, 2024 inauguration of Amb. Joseph Boakai and Jeremiah Koung.
For his part, the operation and finance officer of the SGI, Baysah Kullie lauded the efforts of all individuals and organizations who are helping to have Monrovia tidy before the inauguration in 2024 and called on the citizenry to help maintain the good face of the city before and after the inauguration.
“This is our country and we are the one that can keep it clean,” he said.
Mr. Kullie said SGI intends to collaborate with Monrovia and Paynesville Cities Corporations, the Liberian Marketing Associations, Township Commissioners, local and foreign business and embassies as well as private individuals to maintain the new face of Monrovia and parts adjacent.
