Lack of Waste Bins Forces Nkhotakota Market Traders to Dump Waste in River

Traders at the Old Market in Nkhotakota District have raised concern over the lack of proper waste disposal facilities at the market, saying the situation has persisted for the past three years.

The market, located in Chipala Village under Traditional Authority Malengachanzi, has no waste bins, forcing traders to dispose of waste in inappropriate places.

One of the barbers operating at the market says the lack of waste bins has forced traders to dispose of waste such as hair into the nearby Mpenya River.

He says he is concerned that council officials pass through the market and see the situation but have not taken action to address the problem.

According to the trader, the situation puts surrounding communities at risk of contracting diseases due to poor sanitation.

“I feel that the council officials are the ones with a problem because they cannot send workers to collect taxes from us while knowing that essential facilities such as waste bins are not available here,” said another trader.

Meanwhile, the market’s deputy chairperson, John Ayatu, says traders have become accustomed to the situation because there is no designated place for them to dispose of their waste.

Ayatu says traders often find it difficult to comply with instructions to stop dumping waste into the Mpenya River because the council has not provided an alternative waste disposal site.

“If we had a designated place where these people could dispose of their waste and the council could come and collect it for disposal at an approved dumping site, we would also encourage them to do so. But because there is no such place, it is difficult for these people to listen to us,” said Ayatu.

Ayatu says the council should provide waste bins at the market so that waste collected during cleaning can be properly disposed of.

In response, Nkhotakota District Council spokesperson Wongani Mkandawire has acknowledged the problem, saying the lack of waste disposal facilities is affecting several small markets in the district.

Mkandawire says the council is facing challenges due to a shortage of equipment, including waste bins, as well as difficulties in collecting waste regularly.

He says it is important for the council to take responsibility for maintaining the areas where people live and conduct their businesses.

“As a council, we want to work with market management committees so that they understand their responsibility in helping ensure that people dispose of waste in one designated place,” said Mkandawire.

However, the traders say they will continue disposing of waste into the Mpenya River until the council takes action to address the problem.