WASTE MANAGEMENT
CRUNCH TIME FOR GARBAGE
Janaka Perera tackles the perennial issue of our mounting garbage
Garbage disposal has become a perennial issue in Sri Lanka mainly due to the irresponsible attitude of politicians and others in authority, as well as many members of the public. The Meethotamulla garbage dump disaster proved the magnitude of the crisis. Numerous appeals and warnings by residents and concerned groups went unheeded until tragedy struck.
It is no secret that a culture of corruption has contributed to the situation in Colombo – allegedly involving powerful politicians. One of them reportedly demanded a ransom from two foreign companies that offered to solve the city’s garbage problem. Unwilling to accede to such unreasonable demands, we’re told that their representatives left our shores.
A meaningful solution to the garbage problem has become next to impossible because politicians are hell-bent on demanding commissions from such projects.
Affluence and modern lifestyles lead to more waste and garbage. Fifty years ago, we returned milk, soft drink and beer bottles – all made of glass – to the stores, which sent them back to the factories for washing and sterilising before refilling them, so they could be used over and over again.
That was recycling in the real sense.
Pens were refilled with ink. Ballpoint pens weren’t freely available. The razorblades were replaced instead of throwing the razors away merely because the blades were no longer usable. Cane baskets and bags made of cloth were in common use.
According to Professor O. A. Illeperuma of the University of Peradeniya, a clear and environmentally friendly solution has been available to the urban population since the mid-1990s – i.e. the compost bin, a convenient variant of the age-old garbage pit of the villages. In the past, when plastic and polythene wrappers weren’t available, all kitchen refuse was biodegradable. All of it was thrown into a pit and gradually turned into compost. There was ample space in most premises to also burn fallen leaves and the rubbish in pits.
Since not all families owned refrigerators, people never wasted food. They cooked only what was needed. The three ‘Rs’ (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) that the Western world is recommending today was a way of life in Asia. Illeperuma therefore, suggests that it is high time we go back to these old ways.
Needless to say, creating open garbage dumps in low-lying marshes and elsewhere pollutes the land, air and water. This also poses fire hazards in addition to breeding mosquitoes and rats.
In developed countries, sanitary landfills are used to dispose of garbage where at the end of each day, a thin layer of soil is applied and compacted, the professor notes. This prevents undesirable smells and mosquito breeding. The leach from the landfill goes through treatment plants to destroy any bacteria and only pure water is fed into the surroundings. Since these landfills are lined with heavy-duty polythene, there’s no danger of contaminating the water table.
Electronic waste is another problem. It contains many hazardous metals and materials, such as nickel, cadmium, mercury, bromine, cobalt, arsenic, lead and heavy metals. When these substances are disposed of in an environmentally unsound manner, they reach the human body through food and water. These substances have the potential of causing cancer, asthma, kidney and liver failures, loss of vision, and ailments associated with the respiratory, metabolic and nervous systems.
Illeperuma is surprised that the private sector has displayed little if any interest in commercialising garbage disposal although in other nations, many companies are turning waste into marketable products – e.g. compost, recycled polythene, and recovered iron and aluminium.
Even for a small business or an individual to produce compost out of garbage only requires space. Waste should be considered a resource rather than a nuisance. Used plastics can be recycled or burned in incinerators to produce power. Wet garbage consisting of food waste and other organic materials can be used to generate biogas for the same purpose.
As Illeperuma suggests, the government should impose a rule that households have compost bins, which are distributed for a nominal fee. This would eliminate any need to throw out rotting food onto the streets, which undoubtedly makes for an ugly sight.
“Someone will start a trade by collecting compost from houses and make a profit for both parties, and we shall be free of the mountains of garbage being dumped anywhere… Has anyone spared a thought for the many animals that died due to ingestion of polythene when they rummaged in garbage dumps?” asks Illeperuma.
He concludes: “I think that each and every person who contributed to the collapsed garbage dump is indirectly responsible for those deaths too, and the damage caused. We can’t blame the politicians and be free of guilt. For anything to be successful, each and every citizen should be unselfish and honest.”
Ultimate Waste Solutions, UK, has the ideal solution for processing and cleaning up our type of waste in Sri Lanka, and in doing so also produces many usable byproducts. I understand that they intend to introduce their systems to Sri Lanka soon. To know more, visit http://www.uwsolutions.co.uk.
Even in major cities and towns in India, local bodies have given rights to dump yards and private waste management companies to collect, segregate, transport, treat, recycle, reuse and landfill the waste based on factors such as viability gap funding, and user charges in line with the polluter pays model. Results are not great but are okay to an extent.
Garbage disposal as we know has become a mounting issue both in the city and suburbs. Therefore, it is prudent for the writer to draw attention to the hard facts and urgent need to find solutions to this problem. Overall, the citizens of our country should take the blame for their negligent and irresponsible conduct in dumping garbage bags in every nook and corner, only to be torn apart by stray dogs and crows. The end result, a stench emanating, an unclean environment and a sick society.
I observe that the President has initiated a streamlined garbage disposal program within the Western Province. My only hope is that this program will be closely monitored by the President and will be managed efficiently, so that the garbage can be recycled into valuable byproducts and will not become a burning health issue to the residents in the surrounding areas.
Further, politicians should not be allowed to interfere in the operation of their financial gains. Entrepreneurs who have expressed interest in turning garbage into a money spinner should be given the required financial assistance and backing to set up eco-friendly projects.
Therefore, a clear message should be communicated to all the citizens of this country to become socially responsible citizens and keep our environment clean and healthy. So it is up to us to take the cue and do our duty, not only for our good health and safety, but also to make a contribution to society.
Only when it is realised that an issue has raised its head are sudden bans imposed and people left helpless.
The banning of polybags such as lunch sheets is a similar scenario. However, prior to this ban, did the relevant authorities conduct the groundwork for a sustainable alternative strategy? A fine alternative would have been making food wrappers for present needs out of biodegradable banana leaves as it used to be in traditional use. Perhaps product testing may reveal that this is possible when banana leaves are dried and compressed, extending their usability and shelf life. It would have multiple benefits for people as an income generating method and cause almost no harm to the planet.
This is what we need to combat with current waste management by making use of our natural resources. Combining our conventional good habits in handling waste with this contemporary lifestyle would be fruitful.
Rapid changes in technology have led to shorter product life cycles. This has created more wants in the minds of people, urging them to buy more goods to experience more satisfaction. Instead of the call of duty, people are tempted to buy new products rather than be considerate of the aftereffects of their purchases. Thus, electronic waste too was topping the list of nonbiodegradable waste, becoming more of a hassle and hazardous than garbage waste.
Much danger is posed when malfunctioning computers and mobiles are dumped into the environment. Many people are unaware of the danger because the consequences are not instantaneous. Actually, it’s disheartening that industry leaders come up with breakthrough products but not initiatives to minimise the waste they create.
Sri Lanka does have operations for such waste management. However, consistency in service and expanding these operations with collection centres beyond cities and urban areas are mandatory for sustainable waste management. Consistent awareness throughout the country with demos, working with importers of tech products and imposing preventive regulations could prove to be effective.
It will be possible if people honestly take an initiative in waste management. If manufacturers and suppliers of cans and bottles are truly keen to collect and recycle at least 50% of used containers as raw material for future production, ‘recycling’ will be possible.
There should also be non-monetary benefits highlighted for collectors and consumers alike, in order for recycling to get off the ground. Well, it is possible for the retail sector including supermarkets to collect used and empty plastic and glass bottles and containers for carbonated drinks, jams, sauces etc. Not only containers of food items, but other items such as disinfectants, energy saving bulbs can be collected in a safe manner. With this method, there is a lower probability of soil and water sprouts being infected by hazardous chemicals (when they are dumped as waste) which cause noncommunicable diseases such as kidney or respiratory diseases.
On the other hand, the attitudes of people should change. Currently, the perception of waste is that it is ‘dirty’ and ‘unclean’. In some countries, waste cooking oil is collected to manufacture biodiesel in the energy sector. Thus, many parties – retail, households and the environment – are protected with such effective waste management. We have many examples to learn from. Why worry? Let’s turn a burning issue into an opportunity.