LWMA urges public to join fight against illegal waste dumping |11 January 2024
The Landscape and Waste Management Agency (LWMA) is calling on the community to take more responsibility in their acts to help minimise the level of illegal waste dumping in the community.
Illegal dumping or the disposal of trash generated at one location and disposed of at another one without legal permission includes yard waste, appliances, tires, green waste and other garbage in alleys, dumpsters, vacant lots and open deserted locations.
When a mass amount of waste is in one place, there is a risk to soil and water. Unlike regulated sanitary landfills, which work to protect the surrounding area from contaminants, illegal dumpsites do not have built-in systems and constant monitoring for environmental safety. In an unmonitored, unregulated situation, runoff and hazardous waste can work its way into streams, rivers, sea and drinking water.
Chemicals can seep into the soil and cause the ground to be infertile or even encourage the spread of invasive vegetation that are immune to the effect of the chemicals. It is also possible for the chemicals to make their way into food supplies by entering vegetation.
Animals are not immune to the impact of illegal waste dumping. In fact, they tend to feel the impact first. Small creatures may get ill after eating the trash or potentially become tangled in the debris, making them easy targets for predators. Should runoff or the trash itself make it to a water source, fish may experience depleted oxygen supply or ingest waste particles.
Trash also tends to attract wildlife that may not be native to that particular area. From mosquitoes to stray dogs and rats, which can lead to new diseases and predators entering the area, disrupting the natural flow of the ecosystem.
Garbage tends to be flammable. That is because various pieces of trash can mix, which may release combustible gases. If an illegal dumpsite is left unchecked, it increases the odds of a spontaneous fire that can grow and eventually become a full-fledged forest fire. Additionally, dumped trash can cause floods either by blocking the natural pathways of water or speeding up the process of erosion.
One of the biggest risks illegal dumping poses to humans is illness. Sites where trash is just sitting out are a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes and flies, but also for animals that carry diseases like rats among others. A few of the life-threatening diseases these insects and animals can bring include dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis and malaria.
For a cleaner, greener Seychelles, let us unite against vandalism and work hand in hand to protect and enhance our shared environment by avoiding illegal dumping of waste. The public is encouraged to reduce their waste and to take note that dumping waste in public spaces is an offense. Individuals responsible will be liable on conviction to a fine.
