Bula
Two stories make the front page of The Fiji Times for Tuesday, May 20.
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Synopsis
It can truly be frustrating watching as people dump their rubbish wherever they feel like it!
It does inch out anger and for many people, it is cause for concern.
So when residents of a suburb in Suva expressed frustration over the growing piles of rubbish accumulating by the roadside, there would have been quite a lot of understanding of their emotional response.
They are blaming irresponsible dumping by members of the public.
According to a resident of Nairai Rd in Raiwai, who has been living in the area for more than 15 years, waste continues to be discarded on the ground despite the presence of an available waste bin.
Now that is frustrating!
“It’s an eyesore because it really does not look good when we go for work in the mornings, or when we come back home — rubbish is around the bin and not in it,” the resident who wished to remain unnamed said.
And it seems, this is a common occurrence, and people are not disposing their rubbish properly.
They want the Suva City Council to act, saying such behaviour cannot be allowed to go on.
Now, it is unfortunate that a line of thought shifts to the SCC to consider the residents’ predicament, and do something about it. As if they have the powers to stop this bad habit!
Well, they do have the powers to put in place measures that will assist residents to dump their rubbish responsibly. They could provide bins, and initiate awareness campaigns focused on residential areas around the city.
But that’s just it! The key is responsibility!
Another resident, Maciu Roko, said one of his family members had to dispose some of the rubbish on the ground into the bin as it was also polluting the sidewalk.
“People can reach the top by just throwing the rubbish over into the bin,” Mr Roko said. “There is no excuse! Sometimes, the rubbish would spread to the sidewalk and there would be smell coming from the pile.”
It is a matter of responsibility ultimately. Where people take ownership of their rubbish, and feel a certain way about disposing that carefully and thoughtfully. And again the key is responsibility, and perhaps care for the environment.
You would hope that people are motivated to do the right thing because they care. You would expect them to feel a touch of sadness when there is rubbish all over the place! Or you would hope that people feel saddened by the antics of litter bugs!
There is a suggestion by residents in affected areas for rubbish collection days to be increased weekly.
Meanwhile, the Suva City Council (SCC) health and waste management team, following a thorough clean-up campaign at the Nairai residential area noticed residents using inappropriate containers and takeout bags for the disposal of household waste.
This, it noted, had resulted in garbage being scattered by stray animals, adding to what it terms, the unsightly appearance of streets and surroundings, and public health concerns due to exposed waste.
Proper rubbish disposal is a basic civic duty.
When people dump waste carelessly, it reflects a lack of regard for the environment, for their neighbours and their own community.
Ultimately, as we have always said, effective waste management must be a shared effort. The authorities must do their part, but so must we, as citizens.
Sure, proper infrastructure, regular collection, and education campaigns are all essential, but none of them will succeed unless people take individual responsibility for their actions.
Perhaps we should revisit the hype and campaigns that focused on litterbugs over the years, and put in place heavy penalties!
But it all starts with something as simple as putting rubbish where it belongs – in the bin!
