The concern for the environment is gaining prominence. Many people are joining the wagon of those who care while many are still not interested. Last week, I confronted a motorist who threw away empty container on transit, and he was swallowed by shame. Was he remorseful? Maybe, and may have learned from his poor actions.

Many of us are still in that category. We don't care and we dispose like those who live in the jungle. How can you take the content and dispose the container carelessly. The empty container (waste) is also a resource but indiscriminate disposal will waste more resources to recover the resources you disposed. Practically, let's say the value of a waste PET bottle is one naira when recycled. When you dispose the empty bottle by the road side it may clog city drainages, it may end up in rivers and oceans and it will cost two naira to recover what is one naira. You are using waste to create wastages. Look at the guys that work with the different state waste management authorities in Nigeria.

They struggle to dispose our mess and at the same time struggle to take out what is useful from the wastes. Put yourselves in their shoes, assume you are the one doing the work. If it were your duty to clean up everyone's mess, at least you will refrain from creating the mess and that is SERVICE LEARNING. It is the act of immersing oneself in a system in order to solve problems. When you immerse yourself, you will discover the need to change your attitude and mindset, you will feel it in your heart and you will begin to do things differently. Just try to imagine that you are the one sweeping the street and emptying the dumpsters by the road side, will you still litter things everywhere? I dont think so.

Try to observe and pay attention to the tedious and dangerous work done by these men and women that struggle to clean up our mess, you will examine your SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT and strive to acquire a SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP. As we celebrate world environment day, I call on you to embrace SERVICE LEARNING for your own good, for the community and for the environment.

#worldenvironmentday #servicelearning #cleancity #biodiversity