Capital could turn into garbage dump by 2025

A report from the German embassy suggested setting out different containers to make garbage collection easier

ISLAMABAD: Even as the federal government and its ministers champion the Prime Minister’s Clean and Green Campaign, foreign diplomats have come up with an effective strategy to actually keep the federal capital clean and green.

In association with donor welfare organization, the German embassy has prepared a report which states that most of the commercial and residential areas of the federal capital could become giant garbage depots by 2025 if the current state of cleanliness prevails. It added that it was imperative to raise awareness about cleanliness amongst the public while it emphasized that every individual must partake in the drive.

It further highlighted that the garbage collected from homes, around 60% of it is green, 25% of it can be recycled and only 15% has to be disposed of in landfills or through other means.

CDA left to collect trash

In this regard, the report suggested setting out different containers for different types of garbage to make its collection easier. The district administration, it proposed, should install different coloured containers with blue for pampers, ceramic items, broken crockery etc; white for plastics, glass, clothes etc. Similarly, green bins for organic refuse such as egg shells, fruit skins, rotten vegetables etc.

Talking to The Express Tribune, German Embassy Press Officer Ana Emanuel, said that the project was designed by the embassy. However, she added that an awareness campaign should be expedited in order to make it successful. She told the campaign would be initiated in schools and colleges as well.

Earlier on Monday, the German Embassy launched a Green-it campaign in the Aabpara Market where students and volunteers were told how to segregate waste before they went on a cleanup and awareness drive in the market by picking up trash and sweeping the floors.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2019.