MOST people know that certain types of waste need to be disposed of in specific ways to prevent contaminating the environment.
Whether it is taking old paint to the hazardous disposal facility or keeping recyclables out of the trash, the various rules of disposal are all designed as a form of protection for the world around you.
Many don’t realise the major consequences caused by disregarding these rules.
Everyone slips up at one time or another and disposes of waste in an irresponsible way, but I have an issue when it comes to the improper disposal of sewage to save a few bucks.
Especially so when you clearly have the money if you own most buildings on the Waterfront at an average rental of between R10 000 and R30 000.
There have been a few occasions there when cleaning out the sewage pipes and drains – and I’m not talking a few buckets, I’m talking about large amounts of faeces – the waste is placed into large bins and disposed of in the vicinity of humans a few metres away.
The waterfront in Richards Bay is probably the most popular area for entertainment, dining and business.
This irresponsible act spreads disease.
Imagine if we all throw our garbage away in any manner and there was no authority to supervise waste management activities. It will be an environmental disaster.
I don’t think people should get away with this sort of behaviour. The sewage plant is only 1km away from the waterfront.
Inefficient removal and dumping of sewage results in microorganisms being released with treated effluents in the aquatic environment.
The effluents then enter aquatic ecosystems and become a major source of faecal contamination, posing a serious health risk to humans and animals.
These disease-causing germs and parasites can be spread:
• Directly by people coming into contact with sewage or toilet waste (this can happen, for example, when people walk through sewage which has leaked onto the ground from broken sewage pipes)
• Indirectly by people
• Coming into contact with animals such as flies and cockroaches which carry the germs and parasites in or on their bodies. Dogs and cats can carry germs and parasites too
• Drinking water which has been contaminated by sewage.
Will the authorities please do something about this disgusting behaviour.
