Garbage recycling stuck in limbo

In the absence of recycling laws, the pile of waste matter hampers revenue generation, triggers health problems

LAHORE:

Where rising environmental awareness would have most advocating proper waste disposal throughout the city, the possibility of revenue generation from recycling of waste matter has raised the stakes of inefficiency in garbage collection.

As developed countries around the world utilize plastic waste by recycling it to produce bottles, furniture and polyester fiber, the practice is far from reality in Pakistan, where in the absence of a specified recycling law, millions of tonnes of garbage including paper, cardboard, metals, glass and plastic is left lying around various areas, not only leading to worsening land pollution but also hampering the accumulation of a sizeable revenue through its recycling.

“There is no legal framework for recycling in our country. If the youth starts recycling solid waste, not only can they can earn a good income but they can also play their role in saving the environment,” said Gohar Abbas, Head of Lasani Fiber Industries, who further added that the garbage which continues to rot and stink in the streets, could generate much needed revenue for the government if only a regular waste management policy could be introduced.

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Concurring with Abbas, Saleem, a 16-year-old boy who lives in a nomadic hut near the Bund Road and collects waste every day with his two brothers from the garbage dumps for selling it to a local scrap dealer, feels that the unconventional job allows him to earn a decent living.

“I collect 20 to 25 kilograms of useful waste like empty plastic bottles, plastic pieces, iron and copper pieces. Selling the items to the scrap dealer allows me to earn up to Rs4,000 per day,” conveyed Saleem.

According to the Institute of Urbanism, despite the recycling industry comprising almost 200 factories and employing approximately one million people, more than 30 million tonnes of recyclable garbage is wasted due to improper disposal protocols.

While on the one hand, the improper disposal of garbage results in a loss of revenue, on the other hand medical experts believe that the practice can entail alarming repercussions for the environment and the health of citizens. “If waste is not dumped responsibly, it can lead to a build up of toxic gases like carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere, which can trigger respiratory, skin, metabolic and visual ailments among the populace. Furthermore, waste, especially medical waste is harmful to the soil, since it contains particles which can quickly absorb into the earth, polluting not only the soil but also the groundwater reservoirs,” warned Dr. Zia-ul-Haq, Head of the National Research Laboratory for Climate Change at the University of Punjab.

In light of the concerns raised by Dr. Zia, Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, senior program fellow at the Institute of Urbanism, opined that waste pickers and their recycling efforts should be encouraged so that a positive impact can be brought about on the environment and climate change can be sustainably reversed.

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“Both offices and residences must start using at least two dustbins that allow organic waste and inorganic waste to be separated,” urged Dr. Ahmed, who went on to highlight the importance of promoting the recycling industry so that cleanliness can be achieved in the country and the citizens’ overall health outcomes could also be improved.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, Ali Niazi, Project Director of the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) revealed, “Our company collects 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of garbage daily from Lahore, which is segregated at the Lakhodair dumping site.

This plant has the capacity to produce 1,000 tonnes of fertilizer, alongside producing gas which is supplied to a total of five factories.

Apart from this, talks are also underway with foreign companies to produce jet fuel and petrochemical products from the recycled garbage.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2023.