Professionalism in Waste Mgt

8/14/2019 Professionalism in Waste Mgt

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OSSAI, Reuben Mustapha(MEng; CEnv; IWM; CWMgr)

National President:Waste Management

Society of Nigeria (WAMASON) Managing Director:THE INITIATES LTD.,

Port Harcourt

www.initiatesgroup.com+234 (0)84 [email protected]

www.wamason.org+234 (0)84 785583

[email protected]
http://www.initiatesgroup.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.wamason.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.wamason.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.initiatesgroup.com/


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Mr. Ossai is a Registered Architect, an Env.Engineer, Chartered Environmentalist andWaste Manager with over 15 years experience.He is a member of the Chartered Institution ofWaste Management UK, and Nigerian Institute

of Architects. He is widely exposed in waste management and

has worked on waste strategy development,

auditing, design and construction of variouswastewater treatment facilities, and hasseverally participated in internationalconferences and workshops.

Mr. Ossai is the first African to be certified as anInternational Waste Manager by ISWA and, hecurrently serves as a member of ISWA Landfill

Technical Working Group.


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PROFESSIONALISMINWASTE

MANAGEMENT


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PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Introduction

What is waste mgt?

Who is a professional?

Professionalism in Waste mgt

Global Certification of Waste mgtprofessional

WAMASON position


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INTRODUCTION Waste is a measure of mans imperfection, and

so existed with man (as a proof, archaeologistshave used it to discover ancient humansettlements and scientists have used it to

identify planets with life). When wastes presence in mans environmentbecame a challenge in the early 12th century inFrance, Philip II of Paris initiated the first civilwaste mgt action (though not successful)

This challenge caused a devastating epidemic inEurope at about the mid of 14th century resulting

in, the promulgation of Pariss Ordinance of1338, UK Urban Sanitary Act of 1888, the Riversand Harbours Act of 1899 in the USA, and

much later in Nigeria, the Public Health Act of1958.


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The oil boom of the 1970s ushered in high

urbanisation rate and complex lifestyle: Lagos,Ibadan and Kano were hard hit. Also the 1972Stockholm's Conference that was attended byNigeria, accelerated the environmental

awareness in the country. In 1973, Lagos in addition to K-L-C campaign,

decided to venture into waste mgt. infrastructural

development (building of 3 incinerators). Early 80s witnessed major development in waste

mgt occasioned by filthiness of our urban

landscape (establishment of State SanitationAuthorities). A remarkable turning point in Nigerian waste

mgt history is 1988 (Koko saga).


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WHAT IS WASTE MGT?

Waste management became a challengewith the shrinking space in our urban

settlements and also as a result of theexhaustion of the general earth carryingcapacity

The challenge dynamically took increasingdimensions with resulting complexity. Today, Waste mgt is of four dimensions all

targeted at the entire material flow cycle Public health (the primordial objective

that gained prominence in the early 19th

century due to technological growth)


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Environmental protection (a result ofenvironmental awareness of 1970s occasionedby the first ecological movement and the oilcrises)

Natural resources conservation, (a result of

mass production and consumption that laid afoundation for process de-materialization,material reuse and recycling)

Energy supply(technological society has madeEnergy a measure of standard of living) Waste management is whatever is done with a

view to reducing, treating and disposing of theresidues of material flow cycle for the protectionof public health and environment, recoursesconservation and energy generation.


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WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL?

Classical definition of profession as derived from theLatin words pro and fasteor suggests declarationof faithfulness or confidence.

Therefore Professionaltakes charge of overwhelmingchallenge with confidence and public trust in his ability.

Hence, awareness alone is not enough but knowledge,skill and mastery are required by a professional.

Professionals are therefore characterized by thecompetence(ability to perform a task) they possess andtheir unique access to a complex body of knowledge

Also, the professional demands high level of integrity(asense of moral, necessary to continuously maintainposition that will in all times safeguard society) to enablethem gain public confidence.


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3 Pillars of Professionalism

Competence(knowledge base training,apprenticeship, internship, CPD and networking)

Standard(knowledge, carrying out of operation,certification and licensing, discipline etc)

Ethics(Internal codes or Ethics are part of the

self-definition and regulation of the profession;Code of Conduct reflect the professionsstandards which create public expectations andtrust). Duties created by these codes serve asyardsticks for measuring professional

negligence.


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PROFESSIONALISM IN WASTE MGT

The absence of professionalism in waste mgt isunimaginable especially as waste has existed withman.

Waste mgt wasnt one of mankinds earliestchallenges; but, is waste mgt a challenge tomankind today? Yes - then professionalism is

required in the sector. A new profession predicated on the four objectivesof waste mgt is clearly multi-disciplinary and

complex. Professionalism in waste mgt. involves a system of

operations, ranging from planning, financing,

administration, commercial, technical operations tomonitoring.


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This requires good knowledge of social science,

waste science, economics and engineering (thisbody of knowledge has been consolidated toprovide good platform for training)

Training will not only build the profession, butinternalise it globally with greater rapidity thantechnology import.

Profession should also be able to remunerate thepractitioner, without excessively pressuring theservice benefactor (this means that waste mgtservices must be paid for)

Professionalism will enable waste mgt to besocially acceptable, economically affordable andenvironmentally friendly.


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GLOBAL CERTIFICATION OF WASTE MGTPROFESSIONAL

Certification is a means of standardization and measure oftechnical competence. It (licensing) can be either statutory or non-statutory Certification accords professional recognition and/or permit to

practice having been assessed by an independent experts asbeing competent. It shows commitment of oneself to always work in accordance

with professional Codes of Conduct and Ethics. It shows commitment to continuously develop personal skills and

knowledge in a particular field. Internationally, only one certification is available in Waste mgt

and, this is done by ISWA At national levels, various countries have their method and in

Nigeria: this responsibility is not properly defined however it hasbeen recently transferred from FME to NESREA In the UK, it is done by CIWM and WAMITAB ( Waste Mgt

Industry Training & Advisory Board)


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WAMASON position

WAMASON is a professional Association withCouncils in 16States of the Federation

Membership cuts across both public and privatesectors of the industry

WAMASON is affiliated to ISWA as National

Member WAMASON is:

building capacity in the sector (local & intl training)

re-alignment of local practice with intl standards ( collaboratingwith all Statutory Organisations in development of guidelinesand regulations)

involved in the development of the industry (local& intlbusiness forum)


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It is a mere dream, for Nigeria to desire

sustainable waste management withoutprofessionalism

DO NOT COUNT YOURSELF OUT BYTHE WAY YOU DO IT; BE A

PROFESSIONAL

Professionalism in Waste Mgt

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