Stepping towards regional landfills: an integrated approach

Urbanization and changing waste patterns have made solid waste management a daunting and mammoth task over the decades. Population growth and in-adequate waste management practices witnessed stern issues pertaining to collection and final disposal – huge piles of solid waste has become alarming not only to environment but it has also put human health in jeopardy. In most of the developing countries like Pakistan, solid waste management and its proper disposal is being neglected feature that needs to be heeded. One of the major reasons of this conundrum is lack of awareness amongst the people that has not yet achieved up to the satisfactory level, which is followed by obsolete legislation, lack of trained personnel, futile infrastructure and financial constraints. Unlike other provinces of Pakistan, Punjab has drastically ameliorated its SWM system by rendering the services of Turkish Companies and formation of waste management companies in seven large cities – playing pivotal role in managing solid waste from collection to disposal particularly in urban areas. However, still the collection efficiency is not up to the desired standards and there is a dire need to work on waste collection mechanism. In a similar vein, the recent initiative to clean the rural areas of Punjab that was devoid of formal waste management system is one of its kind, intends to see litter free villages in forthcoming years by provision of efficient waste collection services. The efforts of the incumbent government must be lauded but many rural areas are still deprived of these services and many are facing the collection and transportation snags. Most of the areas are still inundated with huge heaps of garbage alongside the unpaved roads, railway tracks, canals, trenches empty plots and temporary dumpsites, which portrays the appalling status and emanates various environmental, social and aesthetics issues. 

Solid waste management is an integrated approach, which encompasses efficient collection, sustainable transportation and well-planned disposal. In order to cope with these issues, pragmatic solutions are sought for effective collection and safe disposal as per standard scientific practices. Owing to urban sprawl and financial constraints, the formation of landfill in each city is insurmountable and hard nut to crack. In this regard, Government is striving hard to contrive a strategy for the establishment of Punjab Regional Landfills; aims to connect districts through specialized routes, which would be bearing the waste of various municipalities. To facilitate this, waste transfer stations will be established at selected points that will be connected to regional landfill sites where waste collected from different areas will be brought in smaller vehicles and then transported to the designated regional landfill sites using larger vehicles. In order to make this practice economically feasible, the role of waste transfer stations in whole is crucial where municipal solid waste is temporarily staged or stored in the course of its ultimate journey to the landfill or waste-to-energy facility. This does not only deliver fuel savings but also alleviates traffic congestion simultaneously.

No doubt, landfill is an environmentally safe method of waste dumping that witnesses positive changes – provides protection against surface and groundwater contamination, vector borne diseases, odour and emission of harmful gases. Thus, there is a dire need to work on emergency basis, concerned stakeholders must join hands to bring reforms, and regional landfills must be considered based upon already existing Divisional administrative boundaries in the province. This would further ease the implementation of the project and bring positive and productive outcomes. 

https://dailytimes.com.pk/191377/stepping-towards-regional-landfills-integrated-approach/

Haider Ali is young professional works as a Health Safety & Environment Officer in Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH & RC), holds a degree in MPhil Environmental Science from Government College University, Lahore. He writes on burning issues and has been involved in various projects.