The Chief Executive Officer of Eco Impact Network, Mrs Gifty Ofori-Yeboah, has raised concerns over the growing practice of open burning of waste, warning that it poses serious risks to public health and can worsen chronic conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.
She explained that toxic smoke and harmful fumes released during waste burning are inhaled by residents, exposing entire communities to dangerous pollutants that can aggravate existing illnesses and trigger new respiratory complications.
Mrs Ofori-Yeboah issued the warning during a community outreach programme themed “Burn Waste, Breathe Poison,” aimed at educating residents on the dangers associated with improper waste disposal and promoting safer environmental practices.
According to her, continuous exposure to air pollution from burning waste contributes to both indoor and outdoor contamination, increasing the likelihood of chronic coughing, breathing difficulties, and other long-term health problems.
She expressed concern about the rising incidence of respiratory illnesses in communities and called for urgent action to discourage open burning as a method of waste disposal.
As part of the solution, she urged households to adopt proper waste segregation practices, separating biodegradable materials from plastics and other non-biodegradable waste.
She noted that organic waste could be composted or buried to enrich soil fertility, while plastics and other recyclable materials should be collected for reuse instead of being burnt.
Mrs Ofori-Yeboah further appealed to traditional leaders, local authorities, and environmental stakeholders to intensify public education on proper waste management and the dangers of air pollution.
She emphasized that protecting public health requires collective responsibility and consistent behavioural change at both household and community levels.
