Enhancing sustainable environment: SEDI advocates for reuse of waste materials

By Isaac Eranga, Journalists for Peace Network 

Dr Tom Aneni- Executive Director, SEDI 

The Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI), a registered nongovernmental organisation in Nigeria has initiated a campaign for the reuse of waste materials. According to SEDI, sustainable living involves imbibing the concept of "reuse" and as a way of life and turning items considered as waste into a useful resource. 

This was revealed by the Executive Director of SEDI- Dr. Tom Aneni while answering questions from Social Reporters News Service. Tom Aneni said "current disposal methods threaten our health, safety, and environment, and pose additional indirect costs to society. Most industrial, commercial, and household waste is now being placed in dumpsites or landfills. Waste treated in this manner may contaminate groundwater, rivers, and streams. 

"When waste is burned, it releases hazardous gases into the air and leaves toxic residues in the form of ash. These hazardous waste byproducts find their way into humans and animals in one form or another.

"Waste is a growing problem in Nigeria. We are one of the biggest producers of waste in Africa. As our population grows our consumption increases, and the more we consume the more we tend to ‘throw away’ – it is a problem that we all contribute to.

"Reusing products can substantially reduce the amount of waste to be disposed on land. These activities require a high degree of coordination and organization of the waste management chain.

"Sustainable Reuse reduces waste, saves resources and creates a more environmentally friendly world", said SEDI's boss.

Dr Tom Aneni gave the following as reasons for minimizing the amount of waste that ones create: 

"It conserves valuable resources, including: minerals, such as copper used in many electronic goods, tantalum used in mobile phones etc; energy – used in mining, harvesting and manufacturing of resources; timber (forests)– used to make paper, cardboard and wood products; petroleum (oil) – used to make plastics and to transport goods; water – used in large amount to extract resources from the earth and in the manufacturing of consumer goods. 

"Reusing waste also  saves money: if you waste less, you get more out of what you have; waste disposal costs are reduced, for example at school it often costs more to have your rubbish bins collected than it does for recycling to be collected. It reduces impacts on the environment, for example: fewer natural ecosystems will be affected by mining, harvesting, and landfill of waste if we can manufacture new goods from old goods; fewer landfill sites will need to be built if we can extend the life of the landfill, which means that the biodiversity of a future landfill site can remain intact. 

"Finally, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced if we were all to compost and/or worm farm our organic waste.

"The doctrine of 'reuse' reveals that the process of reusing starts with the assumption that the used materials that flow through our lives can be a resource rather than refuse. Waste, after all, is in the eye of the beholder. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. If we really look at things we are throwing away, we can learn to see them as materials that can be reused to solve everyday problems and satisfy everyday needs. Most of us, however, haven’t even begun to exploit the resources in our trash. 

"Once you have made up your mind to use trash for positive uses, you can begin to brainstorm and generate ideas. Reusing saves money, conserves rsources, and satisfies the human urge to be creative", Dr. Aneni said.