The Oyo State Government has commenced enforcement of its house-to-house waste bin collection policy across the state, giving residents, businesses and other establishments found violating the regulations 48 hours to comply.
The enforcement exercise, being carried out by environmental officers of the state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, involves inspections of residential buildings, business premises and other facilities to ensure compliance with proper waste management regulations.
The state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, disclosed this on Tuesday during the flag-off of the enforcement exercise.
Aderinto explained that the initiative was in line with existing state environmental laws requiring residents, businesses and other establishments to make adequate arrangements for the proper disposal and collection of their waste.
According to him, the enforcement became necessary because of the environmental, aesthetic, economic and public health challenges associated with indiscriminate and improper waste disposal.
He said the exercise would involve inspecting premises to determine whether occupants had appropriate waste bins and were registered with approved waste consultants designated to operate in their respective locations.
The commissioner disclosed that premises found without the required waste bins or proper waste collection arrangements would be served abatement notices and given a 48-hour grace period to comply.
He warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would attract enforcement action, including the possible closure of defaulting premises.
Aderinto stressed that the enforcement exercise would continue across the state until the government achieved the desired level of compliance with the state’s waste management regulations.
He urged residents, business owners and other stakeholders to cooperate with the government by providing appropriate waste bins and engaging only approved waste consultants designated for their respective areas.
The commissioner also advised residents to report any accredited waste collector who failed to evacuate waste as required to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources or the Oyo State Solid Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA).
He assured residents that waste consultants found culpable of failing to perform their responsibilities would face appropriate sanctions, including the possible revocation of their operating licences.
The government, he added, remained committed to ensuring a cleaner, healthier and more environmentally sustainable Oyo State.
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