Nasinu grapples with food waste disposal crisis

Nasinu Town Council acted swiftly yesterday to clear kitchen waste in Cunningham after residents raised urgent complaints about strong odours and potential health risks from food waste left outdoors.

The clean-up, led by Council Chairman Felix Magnus, followed a special request from the community. The council commended residents for alerting authorities promptly, allowing teams to respond before the situation escalated.

“Exposed food waste attracts flies, rats and stray animals. It also creates strong odours and increases the risk of diseases such as dengue and typhoid, especially during warm and wet conditions,” Mr Magnus said.

The council stressed that timely kitchen waste collection is a public health issue, not just a matter of cleanliness. Poorly managed food scraps can block drains, scatter during rain and strong winds, and pollute creeks and waterways, contributing to flooding and environmental damage.

Separating organic waste also allows households to compost, reduces pressure on landfills and supports greener, more sustainable waste practices across Nasinu.

Council teams continued kitchen waste collection across all wards this morning. Green waste collections are also under way, with crews returning to streets missed last week to complete the programme.

Residents are reminded to securely bag and tie kitchen waste, place it in covered bins, and put bins out only on scheduled collection days. Bins should be brought back in promptly after collection to avoid attracting animals and creating health hazards.

The council is also encouraging residents to consider home composting for fruit and vegetable scraps to reduce odours and bin volume while protecting the wider community.

“Community cooperation is key. Proper waste management at the household level protects public health, keeps our streets clean and safeguards our environment,” Mr Magnus said.

Nasinu Town Council said ongoing vigilance by both residents and authorities is essential to prevent waste issues from becoming serious health and environmental threats in urban areas.