Religious sect to support sanitation drive in Arusha

Arusha. Ithnasheri, a Muslim sect long established in the country, has started to mark an annual 'Earth Day' by undertaking various environmental amelioration activities in Arusha city and its environs.

The drive started in earnest on Friday when members of the religious group began a series of awareness creation seminars for the residents of the city on the importance of enhancing environmental cleaniness around their premises.

"We will seriously sponsor cleanliness campaigns and indiscriminate cutting down of trees," affirmed an official of the community Mr Akil Lalji in an interview with The Citizen early this week.

He added that the religious group will work closely with the city authorities and other stakeholders in cleaning the streets of Arusha and distribute tree seedlings for planting in various areas.

"Our Earth Day (Dahwul Ardh) in Islam is celebrated on the 25th of Dhulqa' adah, corresponding to August 18th this year," he said, adding further that next year it would be marked on August 8th.

Mr Lalji, who is the director of the Arusha-based Sunbeam Optical Centre, said further that Ithnasheri community has begun environmental protection and cleanliness drive in support of the United Nations Declaration of April 22nd as the International Mother Day.

The UN declaration is aimed to promote harmony with nature and the earth to achieve a balance between economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations.

The sect leader noted that environmental awareness campaigns would also include supporting the city council in addressing the problem of sewage and industrial waste polluting water and therefore posing great health risks.

"When resources are available we will be ready to sponsor all types of cleaniness campaigns such as distributing the garbage bins as well as sensitizing people through radio programmes," he pointed out.

The city authorities have also been criticised on the increasing heaps of solid waste and open sewers in various neighbourhoods of the city which is the headquarters of the East African Community (EAC) and allied regional bodies.

In recent years, recycling of waste has been encouraged by the Arusha city authorities in order to improve sanitation of the fast growing urban centre.

The chairperson of the 'Keep Arusha Clean' initiative launched two years ago, Adolf Olomi said the business firms would also be encouraged to set up plants for recycling different types of wastes, including the used plastic material.

Statistics from the city council indicate that the city generates a total of 550 tonnes of solid waste daily and that 396 tonnes or 72 per cent is collected by the city through firms contracted for the job.

Most of the solid waste is dumped at the Murriet landfill site south of the city. In recent months, the area has attracted people who collect take the items back to town for recycling.

The plastic material is considered the most hazardous waste because it is non-biodegradable. The city authority has supported a local firm which collects the plastics for recycling.

Maendeleo Plastic Limited, located at Sokon One in Arusha, collects at least 2.5 tonnes of used plastics a day in Arusha, including water/liquid bottles and nylon bags, the firm's general manager Japhet Paulo explained.

Most of the collections are shredded and transported to major recycling plants in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, he said, adding that his long term plan is to establish a recycling facility in Arusha.

The local waste production rate in Arusha, according to the city council estimates is two kilogrammes per household per day. Factories, hotels and other production outlets also pool their waste products.