Managing waste

Pakistan has a severe waste problem that has long been left unnoticed and unacknowledged. The country produces a massive 30 million tonnes of waste — a figure that is growing by 2.4% annually — while 80,000 tonnage of bundled waste are imported from around the world. The situation has become so severe that, for the past few years, it has become impossible to avoid.

Due to poor recycling systems, all types of local waste are treated and handled in a similar manner. This means that no proper mechanism has been developed to manage or even separate hazardous waste. With time, major pockets have been established in northern areas and urban metropolises where waste is relentlessly dumped and burned or sold for scrap by notorious kachra mafias that exert their authority. Moreover, it is horrendous and absolutely unacceptable that the government continues to import plastic and toxic waste from countries like UK, Belgium and Germany. This is a blatant violation of the Basel convention that aims to control and regulate transboundary movements of hazardous wastes. This botched system of dealing with waste has not only added to environmental damage and air pollution but it is also adversely affecting the health of citizens.

The bottom-line is that Pakistan produces much more waste that it can handle. Now, when the situation has almost escalated out of control, the federal government has approved the country’s first-ever National Hazardous Waste Management Policy. It is hoped that a National Action Plan (NAP) implementation framework of the policy will be formulated within the next three months and serious action is taken thereafter in order to prevent the country from become a dumping ground of hazardous disposals.

Fortunately, our recycling industry is an untapped resource that has the potential of generating revenue and producing energy. But it remains neglected by authorities who simply lack the vision or skill to actualise this idea. We hope that implementation follows.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2022.

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