THE Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) has expressed concern at the reckless disposal of waste by passengers using public transport, and warned that such behaviour would continue affecting the environment.

ECZ inspector Frazier Chola said transporters and their passengers should always help mitigate the effects of climate change by disposing of waste properly.

Mr Chola observed that most passengers and other road users like throwing litter on road sides through windows instead of keeping it in their motor vehicles until they reach their destination.

He said the habit posed danger to human health and the environment and urged road users to respect laws on environment.

Mr Chola said there was need for people to understand the effects of climate change, and advised that waste management should be everyone's responsibility.

And ECZ public health officer, Derrick Kasongo said commuter operators risked being punished if they do not take responsibility of the way their passengers dispose of waste.

Mr Kasongo said the law requires that each bus should have a plastic container for disposing of any form of waste accumulated on the bus.

He discouraged the practice of burning litter as a way of disposing it, saying burning causes the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which consequently triggers ozone depletion.

The two ECZ officials said this in Livingstone yesterday after addressing passengers on a passenger bus on waste management.

And a Mazhandu Bus Services driver, Moses Sakala said the passenger bus company always sensitised passengers on how and where to dispose of litter while on a bus.

Zanis