By Jennifer John…
The Eastern Waste Management Company, in charge of waste disposal and environmental cleanliness of Imo State, Friday sealed some business premises for defaulting in the payment of their waste disposal levies, in what the company described as “business disruption exercise”.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the end of the exercise, the Deputy Managing Director of the company, Mr Agbi Isimemenjoku Uche said they have been servicing the establishments, by taking and disposing their wastes and have served them their bills since July and August, but most of them have refused to pay.
He said, as a private company, if the establishments fail to pay, “it makes it difficult and almost impossible for us to do our job. So the only way for us to get them to pay is to do what the law empowers us to do, which is to embark on business disruption exercise.
“We embarked on this measure, because we have written them more than once. We first gave them their demand notices and then we sent them a warning letter, to inform them that they were defaulting.
He said a grace period of about three months was given to the establishments before the enforcement exercise
Mr Agbi however expressed optimism that the action will compel establishments in the state to pay their waste management bills promptly.
He disclosed that on the first day of the business disruption exercise, they focused on the hospitality industries, banks, supermarkets and restaurants.
He also used the opportunity to address the issue of waste disposal buckets for commercial vehicles which he said is the only means for commercial drivers to pay their waste disposal levy, saying that the company has been urging the drivers to buy the buckets since June 2024.
On the success of the business disruption exercise, the Deputy Managing Director, disclosed that some establishments complied and paid their levy on the spot, while some made commitment to pay within few days.
He urged all establishments to pay their levies, to the company, to enable it succeed in the task of keeping Imo environment clean and friendly.
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