Noise pollution is a very common and widely known type of pollution, like solid waste pollution, although it may not be well addressed. The solid waste mostly overshadows the noise pollution through uncelebrated Heroes whose nickname ‘’Scavengers’’ who are well known, and their scavenging mode has become an economic backbone among this minor group.
It is more common in developing countries, which struggle to develop proper and structured waste management systems. This is coupled with many other factors, which are topics for another day. Regardless of the many efforts made so far, Tanzania is not exceptional in this matter, ranging from the policy framework to the actual implementation of pollution control.
Generally, Tanzania’s pollution sources are diverse and can be categorized into various subcategories, including industrial activities, deforestation and erosion, water pollution, air pollution, and plastic waste pollution. These types of pollution are also dealt with through various techniques since some are quite particular and hence require a specified approach.
A good example is plastic waste, which can also contribute to air, water, and land pollution. Because of its severe impacts, Tanzania enacted a plastic ban in 2019 to reduce this pollution, which was becoming so severe across the country.
To date, there is a big improvement in comparison, although there is still a spillover of plastic products, especially packages and bags from some business outlets. Nonetheless, it is impressive compared to the situation in the last 6 years.
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Recycling, waste collection, and management are increasing countrywide due to the government’s conducive support. A great portion of the population is engaged directly or indirectly in the recycling process through sorting, reusing, and some reselling the recyclable materials.
This creates jobs and income while increasing the chance of solving the rampant spread of some of the waste. Several centres are now collecting iron, steel, aluminium, plastic bags, plastic bottles, rubber materials, and so many other materials that otherwise would have been scattered across the land. We have also witnessed some people using these materials to make pieces of decoration artwork while others are making useful items like flower pots and containers.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), other Community-based Organisations (CBOs), and environmental well-wishers also volunteer to push the agenda. Different activities are organised to contribute to cleaning and waste collection in public places, such as parks and beaches.
These groups are also contributing to and extending the government’s arm in managing and ensuring clean and healthy living spaces for citizens. This is good, but it is not enough; more players are needed to cope with climate change’s increasing severity and impacts.
Unlike noise pollution, which is exclusive, noise pollution is also notorious but not sufficiently addressed due to its nature and spread. The sources of noise pollution in Tanzania, as identified by the Environmental Management (Standards for Control of Noise and Vibration Pollution) of 2015, and permissible levels are well articulated.
The depth of this kind of pollution cuts across other sectors, such as wildlife, health, physiology, and psychological aspects of humans and the environment. Despite these embedded sectors, many violations deny composure and harmony among the residents, especially in urban centres where public noise pollution is increasingly entertaining.
These areas are identified, such as bars and open music, transportation facilities, construction sites, religious and social gatherings, social events in homes, and industries in designated residential areas.
The National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) is the government body mandated to enforce noise pollution regulation, among other things, under EMA 2004. However, given the extent of work behind the implementation of this legal requirement, there is backsliding.
Among others is the capacity to cover the entire mainland and the limited capacity of the institution. The vastness of the country and the efforts to manage the growing population and increasing socioeconomic activities make it complex; hence, these unlawful acts in different areas continue in magnitude.
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Additionally, the institution’s manpower and bureaucracy make it multifaceted to manage quick responses. If there is noise pollution, one must report it to the authorities.
However, this requires justification and information processing, which makes it complex to navigate through the bureaucratic nightmare coupled with limited facilities, including manpower limitations. It, therefore, remains yet another burden that the common Wananchi would rather avoid than engage in such a hassle process.
Limited awareness is also an obstacle facing the entire population, as understanding is required before dealing with the matter. The current situation indicates that most people do not understand that noise pollution is unlawful, and some do not know the procedures to deal with such cases.
At the same time, others are just used to business as usual, and they think they have nothing to do with the situation. In some places, they have lived the noises and seems to be the norm, nobody bothers to question any longer. Also, the acceptable noise level and how to measure it is just too high for the common citizen to realise unless education is provided and possible aids are available and accessible.
The government, particularly the responsible body, must ensure accessibility and reliability in reporting and acting. The earlier the information is received, the more response should occur to rescue the health and environment from noise pollution.
This is considering the depth of sectors likely to be impacted by noise pollution, such as disturbance of concentration in homes and psychological impacts among the people. These may have been underestimated and not considered at the required level, so its effects continued radiating at an extreme level.
There is a need to continue capacity building regarding resources, including human resources, to handle the cases when reported. The spread of the problem requires much education, access, and action accordingly. These cases are all over, and some hard-to-reach areas have no idea how to deal with such problems when they happen in their locality.
Capacity building, including improving technology, can ease accessibility and reporting and rectify through available abetment and control measures.
Although pollution may be an understandable topic in the country, biases have been placed on solid wastes, and little attention has been given to noise pollution. However, the impacts of noise are exceedingly beyond imaginable levels in most parts of the country.
It continues to suffer impromptu as it lacks direct incentive compared to solid waste, where waste-mining is done by the said uncelebrated heroes ‘’scavengers’’.
In due case, the government should invest much in this type of pollution to make it viable and avoid the far-reaching adverse impacts. Both types of pollution are matters of urgent control and must be monitored to ensure a balance between economic and environmental benefits.
