Managing hazardous waste: German firm likely to set up facility in capital

Pak-EPA chief says talks in advanced stage.

ISLAMABAD: A German firm has agreed to build a modern recycling facility for medical and other hazardous wastes in the capital.

Talks between the firm and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) are in advanced stage. “Though the work is currently in the feasibility stage, the company has agreed to build an integrated waste recycling plant on free market mechanism basis,” Pak-EPA Director General Dr Muhammad Khurshid Khan told The Express Tribune on Friday.

He said in absence of a treatment plant, all medical and other hazardous wastes are disposed of improperly, into the drains or along with the household waste. This unsafe disposal has serious implications for human health and environment.

Khan said the company, which he requested not to be named, has vast experience in managing hazardous waste and harmful substances. “Initially, the firm will provide services for medical and other hazardous wastes but later on, it intends to build a facility to treat solid waste in Islamabad,” said the DG.

In addition to hospital waste, other hazardous wastes the firm will deal with include old batteries, fluorescent tubes, paints, and tins which contain harmful substances. Environmentalists say these and other items must not be disposed of along with the daily household waste.

The German company has specialist mobile hazardous waste units, which will collect waste from hospital and laboratories and will sort and recycle them.

Dr Khan said that the German government-owned development bank, KFW, based in Frankfurt has agreed to provide 40 per cent financing for the integrated recycling facility while remaining 60 per cent cost will be borne by the company itself.

Besides providing a recycling facility, the company will also help in capacity building of local authorities.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2015.