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.

My Waste, My Responsibility

There is no denying fact that solid waste management has become daunting and mammoth task across the world. In Pakistan alone, with the exception of few, most of the areas are still inundated with huge heaps of garbage alongside the unpaved roads, railway tracks, canals, empty plots and temporary dumpsites – portrays the appalling status and emanates various environmental, social and aesthetics issues. It’s because of rampant population explosion followed by inadequate management practices left this issue unintended for decades. The annual waste generation has already 48 million tons; increasing over two percent every year. Presently, Karachi depicts abominable scenario pertaining to waste. It’s almost near to impossible lifting of 10 years of unintended waste—a gargantuan task for concerned authorities owing to insufficient manpower and resources. Hence, huge piles of solid waste at various points have become alarming not only to environment but it has also put human health in jeopardy.  Now here the question emanates who is to blame for this imbroglio – Government, Private Partners, Experts or Public? To be honest, no one is blame free. 

It’s not a right approach to blame government; public and others are equally responsible for this prevailing menace.  Our alma maters  and other experts in this field who always come up with innovative ideas of producing compost from organic waste or energy from rest of the waste by giving examples of developing countries without realizing the actual scenario. This is the main problem which manifests the gap between market and institutions. The nature of generated waste in Pakistan is not as in Turkey, Japan, Germany and other countries whom case studies we often present in our syllabus and conferences. There is a dire need to hit the bull’s eye and manage things accordingly. The waste generated from households is not good for compost (fertilizer) owing to moisture content and same goes to rest in case of energy. 

To get desired results, we need to ensure segregation at household level but again it needs awareness. Firstly, different color bins can be placed in commercial areas by mentioning category of waste like organics (fruit and vegetables) or inorganics (plastic, metals etc.). At second stage, residential areas can be targeted. This would generate revenue from organic waste in the form of fertilizer and rest may be sold as recyclables. However at this juncture, role of scavengers shouldn’t be ignored as recyclables they extract from waste is the source of livelihood for them. Government along with concerned stakeholders must device a mechanism to include them in a legal system and provide them incentives such as personal protective equipment and basic aid to avoid exposure to various hazardous things owing to their contribution to an environment and nature conservation. Remember, all the success stories of developing world we quote didn’t earn this status overnight. It’s a gradual process to become culture. 

Moreover, government and concerned authorities always react haphazardly without taking in to account the real root-cause and seem to squander massive resources for nothing. Apart from obsolete legislation, lack of trained personnel, futile infrastructure and financial constraints, one of the major reasons of this conundrum is lack of awareness amongst the people. Generally, Public is least bother about their waste management and they throw it unintended in streets and roadsides. At government level, apart from imparting education, fines must be imposed over this practice. 

Considering this a burning issue, all stakeholders must be on board in order to reap desired results. Institutions can update the syllabus accordingly from primary level and sensitize and educate upcoming generations. Experts from foreign and local universities can be invited to share solution based ideas. Assignments, projects and dissertation must consider burning issues and share pragmatic solutions to government and authorities. This would fill the gap between market and institutions. Students must be engaged to create awareness and sensitize masses about waste management and convince them to do segregation before collection. There are various small scale projects already in place, which can be expanded to larger scale. 

In a similar vein, Masjid –a perfect place to sensitize masses to harness fruitful results. During festive events like Eids, our masjids can play better role to keep our cities clean. It’s all about mindset. If we could spend huge amount of money on sacrificial animals then why do we throw the remainings and waste unintended and avoid using appropriate bags, which only cost peanuts. We have to change this mindset. This practice emanates unprecedented impacts on us, our environment and surroundings. Concerned authorities are in full swing to manage waste but it’s our responsibility to help them out and keep our surrounding clean. Let’s raise this slogan at every level “My waste, my responsibility”. 

However, at Government level, no doubt, huge resources and manpower is required for primary and secondary collection of waste and government is already spending billions in this regard but desired results are not on the board. One way to solve this problem is to provide incentives to the public. Secondary collection points can be established at proposed locations where waste will be collected through machinery and reward must be there with respect to weight or appropriate segregation. It will surely save the primary collection cost and ensure cleanliness. Pilot project may include low income areas first, then, can be expanded to rest. 

Taking all in consideration, its pertinent to mention that adequate waste management practices reap multiples benefits by protecting environment and reducing health cost. Lo and behold, ignorance and complacency would only lead to unprecedented repercussions as it becomes a part of our food chain. This is true what goes around comes around. Plastic bags episodes, marine life and amount of plastic consumed by fishes is the most prominent example. Therefore, there is a dire need for all stakeholders to join hands irrespective of their vested interest in order save environment and conserve the nature for future generations. Let’s raise this slogan at every level “My waste, My responsibility”.

This article can also be viewed on:

https://dailytimes.com.pk/447554/my-waste-my-responsibility/

https://learnersrepublic.com/my-waste-my-responsibility/

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.