HYDERABAD: Enviro-nmental activists discussed problems and solution to poor waste management, which lead to mental and general health problems in society.

It was everyone`s responsibility to bring a behavior change towards reduction of waste and its reuse, they said while discussing waste management issues at a programme held at a local hotel the other day, organised by the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) in collaboration with a UK-based company.

Discussing urban environmental issues and the role of youth, they said activists had designed six environmental actions/interventions for implementation of waste management by each of the six groups.

These actions included segregation models, environmental impacts on human and environmental health and how to promote efforts to reduce impacts of waste on human and environmental health and mental health insix areas of the city.

Out of the six actions, two were selected for the award of Rs50,000 each.

Speaking on the occasion, SCF head Javed Soz highlighted need for environmental sustainability in urban areas in public policy and discourse.

He said that environment had been a neglected sector, but it had become more important.

He said people could play active role in transformation of society towards clean and green environment by mass awareness in urban area.

An NGO representative, Suleman G.

Abro, said the world was facing environmental degradation and recent floods were result of poor waste management.

Emphasising the need to train people to make them responsible citizens in daily life, he said the young generation was less educated about emerging issues of climate and waste management.

Prof Dr Isamil Kumbhar said solid waste generation ranged between 0.283 to 0.612 kg/capita/day andwaste generation growth rate was 2.4pc per year. He said it was alarming that only 33pc waste was collected.

He proposed R3 (reduce, recycle and reuse) method and installation of waste bins.

It was good that the Sindh government had started solid waste management programmes in Hyderabad, but it needed more public participation, he said.

Dr Haafresh Kumar, a mental health expert, said poor waste management left negative implication on mental health.

He said there was need to change public behaviour so that people could show responsible attitude for environment.

Every citizen should be responsible to keep earth safe and address issues of environmental health, he added.

Prof Saffar Koari from Mehran University, Palcistan Agriculture Research Council Tandojam Director Dr Aslam Memon, Wasim Shah, Khalid Chandio and Rashid Leghari also spoke on the occasion.