ENVT: CITIZENS CALL FOR SENSITIZATION ON USE OF TAKA TAKA POINTS

One of the taka taka points at ediofe trading centre in Arua city.

By Anslem Ojaru
Arua City

Lack of knowledge and awareness by the public about Taka taka points in Arua city is frustrating the fight against plastic pollution.

Three  years ago Arua city under the Mayors Migration Council project received 65 new recycling containers distributed throughout the city with an aim of curbing plastic pollution , yet polythene bags, plastic bottles are still seen poorly disposed off along the roads and in water streams that end up  in drainages posing a threat to the environment.

The plastic containers strategically placed along the busiest roads and trading centers however, one could see that the containers were hardly filled up.
Eyotaru Brenda, one of the tailors along Ediofe trading center says the plastic containers have not been put to use to greater extend, most people don’t understand the purpose of the plastic containers.

Eyotaru was quoted saying, ”In that place of dropping the plastic bottles what have seen is that people throw bottles there though only few people do that, others mostly collect them and later sell them as part of their business, people throw the plastics in there once in a while, I think most people don’t know the purpose of the plastic collection point, that’s why they just throw the plastics anyhow, only if people knew the purpose of the plastic point then they would use it for dumping the plastic bottles.”

Monica who sells clothes at the trading center says the plastic containers have had an impact on the plastic pollution.

Monika said, “That thing was good, before it was brought people used to throw plastics anywhere around but after that thing was brought people now throw bottles there only that the plastic point is not locked, someone comes and picks them from there for sell. But since it was brought, there is no one who has come to empty it, only these young boys who collect them for sell are the ones picking them from there.”

 Molly Osutaru a vendor calls for awareness creation on the purpose of the plastic containers. “You buy water and you throw anywhere so people don’t mind, it is those who mind who can just take the water and drop where it is supposed to be dropped so others they move with the water so where they finish is where they drop it so it is all about the individual we were not sensitized about it even actually we at first didn’t know why it was brought here now we are not sensitized about this container, it needs awareness of the community about these things,” Molly appealed.

The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) is involved in a project in Arua City to address waste management, specifically focusing on plastic waste, and simultaneously creating economic opportunities for migrants and refugees.