'Open dumping sites will be impounded'

Viable solutions to the garbage problem:

Sajitha PREMATUNGE

Disorganized waste disposal has turned from health hazard to crisis situation, especially in Colombo, Dehiwala-Mt Lavinia and Kandy. The Bloemendhal situation has acted as an eye opener to the public as well as authorities. In dumping sites such as this heavy metal contamination is very high. Moreover unsorted waste makes recycling nearly impossible. It is made up of a mixture of clinical waste; e-waste like CDs, DVDs, mobile phones, batteries and TVs; all sorts of toxic chemical wastes from agricultural to industrial; domestic organic as well as inorganic waste such as iron, construction waste and plastic.

"It'll be much easier for us to just put skippers everywhere. But the security situation prevents us from doing so", claimed Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Environment and Natural resources. He explained that there are many factors that hinder the progress of garbage segregation and disposal in Sri Lanka. He said that according to the Local Government Act the sole responsibility of waste collection, treatment and dumping is of the local authority. "This legal barrier prevents up from introducing more plausible waste management proposals." He further explained that some local authorities - for example the Municipal Council of Colombo and Karadiyana - have entered long term agreement with private sector companies, sometimes leading to years of legal battle. Another problem is the lack of coordination between authorities - such as the Local Authority, Provincial Council, Urban Development Authority and ultimately the Ministry of Environment - that deal with waste management. As the minister points out lack of proper land for garbage disposal in Colombo is another problem that should have been dealt with decades ago. "A zoning system should have been developed in the original city plan." He further explained that such a plan should have included allocated land slots demarcated as environmentally sensitive areas, residential areas, industrial areas and waste management areas. "Colombo is all rolled up into one.

Consequently we are used to dumping all our waste into wetlands. Both Bloemendhal and Karadiyana used to be wetlands." Dumping waste in wetlands could result in many undesirable repercussions. Wetlands are water retention areas, pollution of such water catchments would eventually result in water contamination that would lead to life-threatening health hazards.

Waste management is neither desirable nor lucrative. Consequently financial constraints have stalled development of waste management in Sri Lanka, unlike the generation of waste that has developed exponentially. "If we charge people an upheaval and a lot of political agitation will follow" explained the minister. Moreover the minister explained that lack of profit made by waste management - due to managerial problems - prevent waste management from becoming self sufficient. The lack of technical know-how is another barrier for waste management in Sri Lanka. Minor things can lead to disasters. "For example labourers are not trained on garbage segregation.

Making recycling nearly impossible." The minister reiterated the importance of waste management starting from the preliminary level.

"Political commitment is of utmost importance for the sustenance of waste management", explained the minister. "The waste management program run by the Weligama Municipal Council is a good example for political commitment." To the contrary, some Mayors attempt to make profit out of waste management.

Moreover as the minister explained, political opportunism is a major obstacle the waste management process has had to face. "In 1997 many objected to the proposal of the sanitary landfill, but they never proposed an alternative." The minister explained that any amount of recycling would ultimately result in some amount of residue. "We need landfills to dispose of the residue. Although everyone is against establishing landfills to solve waste management problems in Colombo, most of the waste brought to Colombo originates from areas like Avissawella and Panadura.

"People just throw garbage around or worse just toss them over the gate. As long as their backyard is clean everyone is happy. This is simple lack of social responsibility." But he explained that there is still hope for waste management in Sri Lanka. He revealed that waste in Gampaha area was reduced by 40% by reusing waste in domestic scale.

To counter legal issues, the Minister revealed that the ministry is working on changing the Local Government's Act. To improve coordination among authorities, a National Platform - with the participation of representatives of all authorities has been formed. A Cabinet approved National Policy, a National Strategy and an Action Plan - the motto of which is `Sri Lanka without waste in 2012' is a result of this Platform. "In operating this plan the Triple R concept of Reduction, Reuse and Recycle, will be strictly adhered to."

An Environment Conservatory Levy has already been formulated to raise funds for waste management. "All viable project plans for compost production from all Local Authorities will receive funds to make waste management a self sufficient industry in the near future", explained the minister. "But for most large scale private sector proposals like Energy to Waste, the problem of proper land still stands."

Twenty-five per cent of plastic in Sri Lanka can be recycled. But since plastic is a byproduct of fossil fuel and fuel prices have gone down lately recycled plastic costs more than virgin plastic. "But we have successfully brought plastic use to a saturation point." An electronic waste recycling program is to be launched next month. Since December 2008, the environment protection licence is not given to institutions if they don't have proper clinical waste disposal facilities. "Through this we plan to enforce waste segregation."

Training of Local Authority personnel, awareness programs at school level and government institutions are now under way, KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) providing most of the technical expertise and foreign training opportunities. The minister revealed that the UDA has launched a large scale zoning program to identify suitable land for waste treatment.

"We have tried for two years not to take legal action against Municipal Councils that disregards proper guidelines. Eleven such Municipal Councils have been identified; some of them have even attempted to hinder our attempts to improve waste management", explained the minister. According to the minister three such MCs have been sent letters of warning. Last Wednesday the Cabinet approved the impoundment of open dump sites. "This includes private lands." Garbage dumps such as Malwathu Oya, Gohagoda, Kolonnawa, Kalutara Porawatta, Werahera and Bloemendhal will be rehabilitated.