Agency may sue county over waste disposal
What you need to know:
- He said that the county government’s plan to relocate the dumpsite was taking longer than expected.
- The dumpsite was closed by the Ministry of Public Health.
An enviromental agency has threatened to take the Nyeri County government to court over poor waste management.
National Environment Management Authority (Nema) official Stephen Njoka said the county had failed to ensure proper disposal of waste and protect residents from health risks. The county’s duty was to manage dumpsites and waste disposal, he added.
“We assessed the dumpsite and found it to be a health hazard, as it had biomedical waste.
“If nothing is done, we shall take legal action,” Mr Njoka, who was accompanied by CID officers to the dumpsite yesterday, said.
TAKING LONGER
He said that the county government’s plan to relocate the dumpsite was taking longer than expected.
“All biomedical waste should be incinerated at the hospitals and should not find its way to the dumpsite” Mr Njoka said.
The dumpsite was closed by the Ministry of Public Health. The Chief Officer of Health, Dr Peter Munyua, said they would inspect public and private hospitals to establish their means of waste disposal .
Health centres without incinerators are allowed to burn their waste at the Nyeri General Hospital.
