The task of waste disposal in Imo State may no longer be saddled solely with the Imo State Environmental Transformation Agency, ENTRACO, as the Imo State House of Assembly looks good to pass the State Waste Management Agency Bill.

The bill passed third reading during plenary at the Imo State House of Assembly. It was presented by the Majority Leader and member representing Ikeduru State Constituency, Hon. Uche Ogbuagu

Ogbuagu in his presentation said the bill will reduce the workload on ENTRACO, ensure cleanliness in the state, create employment and aid in revenue generation.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Chiji Collins, said the bill when passed as law would guarantee environmental cleanliness.

The near passage of the bill has raised concerns on the fate of ENTRACO, an agency also saddled with the task of waste and refuse collection in the State.

Environmental experts say the new agency when it comes on board, will either create room for the un-bundling of ENTRACO or lead to a possible merger.

Mr. Chris Okebata, an environmentalist told this newspaper in Owerri that he foresees a merger of the two agencies in the future or ENTRACO risks been unbundled

“I foresee a merger or ENTRACO will be subsumed into the newly created Waste Management Agency. If these two agencies remain, they will be duplicating functions.

“The environmental network in the State is untidy. We have a Ministry of Enviroment, there is a Committee on Environment newly set up by the Governor, there is ENTRACO and soon we will have Waste Management Agency.

Mr. Rufus Okoroma, however drew the line between the two agencies. He said ENTRACO is backed by law and un-bundling it or subsuming it with another agency will take some time.

“ I do not have the details of the newly created Waste Management Agency which is on the verge of being approved by the State House of Assembly, but I think there are no overlapping functions with ENTRACO.

“ENTRACO has to do with refuse collection and disposal, while the waste management agency could be about managing waste and refuse for economic benefit of the State.

“ In Europe, there are waste management Agencies that have to with recycling waste for economic gains and benefits. They are not into waste collection and disposal. We may have the same scenario here”

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