AJK govt mulls outsourcing solid waste management

MUZAFFRABAD:

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government is considering outsourcing solid-waste management as the region struggles to cope with an estimated 1,300 tonnes of waste generated daily, with officials warning that the absence of reliable household and commercial data remains a major hurdle to designing an efficient waste-disposal system.

The proposed model envisages shifting waste collection and disposal to the private sector at an estimated rate of Rs17,500 per tonne, while introducing a structured system for the collection, transportation, recycling and conversion of organic waste into compost and other useful products.

Secretary Local Government and Rural Development (LG&RD) AJK Irshad Qurashi said the initiative was being examined as part of efforts to transform AJK into a cleaner and more environmentally sustainable welfare state. The government is also considering district-level waste-management targets and greater private-sector participation.

AJK produces around 1,300 tonnes of solid waste every day, but lacks comprehensive data on the number of households, commercial establishments and the volume of waste generated in different areas, making planning and resource allocation difficult.

The proposed system would focus on source-level collection, rather than transporting mixed waste to distant transfer points. Qurashi said organic waste could be converted into compost and used as fertiliser, while recyclable materials such as glass and construction waste would require separate handling, as mixing them with organic waste could undermine the recycling process. The authorities have also identified gaps in sanitation manpower, with around 546 sanitation workers across AJK, including 122 in the capital city of AJK serving a rapidly growing population and expanding urban centres.

The AJK government is studying waste-management models from other parts of the country, particularly Punjab.