THE Nasinu Town Council is stepping up efforts to combat illegal dumping and littering across the township, with stronger laws and enforcement measures now in focus.
Acting chief executive officer and board chairman Felix Magnus said the council had raised the issue with the Minister for Environment and welcomed Government’s response to tighten legislation.
“About illegal dumping, we have talked to the honourable Minister for Environment, and she is taking it on board,” Mr Magnus said.
“The litter laws have also changed; we have requested to strengthen the penalties for illegal dumping and casual littering that happens.
“We are thankful that the Government has taken that initiative to change the laws of this country, so that people are taught that illegal dumping is a crime.”
He expressed particular concern about the impact of rubbish on coastal communities, especially those who rely on mangroves for their livelihood.
“You look at the coastal areas, people on the coast depend on the coastal mangroves for their livelihood.
“But when you go into the mangroves, you see the amount of rubbish there.
“It’s a dumping ground.
“Some of these rubbish have come from upstream, dumped by careless people, people that are reckless, people that have no civic pride at all.
“So during heavy rain, they just throw the rubbish into the creeks.”
Mr Magnus urged residents to dispose of their waste responsibly and avoid throwing rubbish into waterways.
“We have been asking the people, not to dump their rubbish into the creeks.
“You put it on the road. Whether it stays there for a week, whether it stays there for two weeks, or for a month, Nasinu Town Council will pick it up.
“But don’t dump into the rivers because that will affect the livelihood of the coastal people.”
He stressed that community cooperation was vital to keeping Nasinu clean and protecting the environment for future generations.
