Lira – Lira City Council has introduced the polluter pay policy to manage garbage.
The city generates between 100 to 120 tons of waste per day, especially from households.
The city has partnered with Alliance Water Solution and Siloch Group of Companies to manage the garbage on a polluter pays principle in City West and City East Divisions respectively.
Under the polluter pays, individuals, institutions, and businesses will bear the cost of eliminating the waste garbage generated from their facilities. The new policy became effective this financial year following a council resolution.
Sam Atul, the Mayor of Lira City Council explained that the rate of garbage collected is too high for the city to manage on its own.
Leonard Otika, the Lira City Environment Officer explained that the new arrangement is backed up by different laws governing the country. He said that every city dweller must embrace the new arrangement to ensure that the city is clean.
Jimmy Akena, the Lira City East Member of Parliament emphasized garbage sorting before depositing to ensure that more resources are gained from it. He said that managing garbage requires a lot of financial resources which is always limited to maintaining the trucks.
Emmanuel Okello, a vendor at Lira Main Market supports the new policy saying most businesses and households produce a lot of garbage which is poorly managed.
In the past, the city would spend about 40 to 45 million Shillings on garbage management per quarter. The money is spent on paying garbage collectors, and sweepers within the city center, fueling the two garbage trucks, and paying for the laborers at the composite site in Aler, Lira City East Division.
Source:URN
