How Waste Management Issues Affect OAU's Environment

Olatunji Esther 

Moremi Dump House

The Moremi Dump House, located in front of Moremi Hall, was established last session to promote environmental sustainability and proper waste management. However, a recent visit to the dump house reveals significant problems. It is overflowing with trash, and the surrounding area is littered with waste. The unpleasant smell coming from the dump house is overwhelming.

The condition of the dump house contrasts sharply with its intended purpose. It is meant to be a facility for environmentally friendly waste disposal on campus, but it has turned into an eyesore.

The issue raises questions about whether the problem lies with the dump house itself or its users. Observations indicate that user behavior plays a major role in the dump house's poor condition. Cleaners are not disposing of their waste properly and are instead leaving trash in front of the dump house, which includes food waste, plastic bottles, and other non-biodegradable materials.

Is this an innovation problem or a user problem? While the dump house may have its shortcomings, the main issue appears to stem from user attitudes toward waste management. The facility is designed to encourage sustainability, but users must utilize it correctly.

Environmental sustainability is a pressing issue that affects everyone. Climate change remains one of the most urgent challenges today, necessitating action from all individuals. Although the Moremi Dump House may seem minor, it reflects broader waste management issues. Responsibility for actions and environmentally conscious habits is essential.

Waste disposal challenges extend beyond the Moremi Dump House; they represent a campus-wide concern that requires collective solutions. After football matches, fields are often littered with trash. Students frequently discard waste carelessly after classes. The situation worsens during trade fairs and convocation seasons, leading to an overwhelming amount of trash on campus.

Organizations like Plogging Nigeria promote environmental sustainability and advocate for "reuse, reduce, recycle," but these initiatives only address part of the problem. They tackle surface issues while leaving deeper problems unaddressed. The responsibility for advancing environmental sustainability lies with the entire university community.

To better understand waste disposal issues at OAU, interviews were conducted with two students regarding their views on waste management and environmental sustainability.

Anu Ogunjuyigbe, a member of Plogging Nigeria at OAU, highlighted the need for improved waste disposal infrastructure: "Whenever we go on our plogging exercises, we carry trash bags and properly dispose of waste at the dump house. I think the school should provide trash bags for cleaners and place waste bins beside dump houses for students to use. This would make it easier for waste managers to sort refuse since some students will dump single items into it." Anu also pointed out that OAU faces numerous challenges concerning environmental sustainability.

Peace Sannya, another student, expressed her concerns about fellow students' attitudes toward waste disposal: "I'm really displeased with OAU students' attitude towards waste disposal. There aren't many large bins around, so I usually keep my waste in a bag until I find one. Unfortunately, not everyone shares this concern. I've seen students carelessly disposing of waste; when approached, they shrug it off like it's no big deal. It's frustrating to see that kind of attitude."

Addressing these issues requires changing attitudes toward waste management. Students must take responsibility for their actions and adopt environmentally conscious habits. With convocation season approaching, it is expected that areas will be littered with food packs and disposable items. However, this can be avoided if bins are placed at tents by celebrants for guests to use.

Additionally, providing trash bags for students can facilitate proper disposal of waste through designated entry points.

Another solution involves increasing the number of bins and repairing existing damaged ones in various areas of the school. The current bins are often too small to accommodate the volume of waste generated daily by thousands of students. Implementing this simple measure could significantly reduce waste during convocation events. Furthermore, collaboration with groups like Plogging Nigeria could help organize clean-up events and promote environmentally conscious habits among students.

Ultimately, addressing these issues requires more than individual actions or group initiatives; it calls for a coordinated effort from all stakeholders involved in promoting environmental sustainability at OAU.