'Pilisaru' extends national solid waste management program

When I assumed duties as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, my first priority was to have a clear and comprehensive waste management program for Sri Lanka. However, my Ministry officials who expressed some reservations about my priority were of the view that we need not get involved in waste management as it was not a subject which came under the purview of our Ministry. It was their contention that the waste management was the responsibility of respective local authorities and the role we are expected to play was to impose the law on defaulting local authorities.

Since I disliked the idea of policing the local authorities, I initiated a series of discussions with them to study the related problems.

The discussions so held established the fact that non-availability of technology and financial constraints were the two major impediments by which the local authorities had been handicapped in the sphere of waste management. Having ascertained the root cause of the problem, I decided to introduce the "polluter should pay" principle and established a local fund to facilitate the waste management programs of the local authorities. Although these long overdue measures were taken to mitigate serious health, environmental and social issues arising from ad hoc solutions taken in the past on waste management, it was a pity that we were confronted with many obstacles such as politically motivated public protests and non-availability of suitable land.

Improper management of solid waste is one of the key environmental problems in Sri Lanka. Lack of systematic approach for waste segregation and collection, transport, intermediate treatment and appropriate final disposal have been contributing to aggravate the solid waste problem in the country. Despite the responsibility to provide reasonable solutions to this problem is within the purview of the Local Authorities (LAs), the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources (MENR) has launched a program in 2008 titled 'Pilisaru' National Solid Waste Management Program to facilitate the LAs and other stakeholders to overcome this issue of improper management of solid waste. The duration of the Pilisaru Project is three years (2008-2010) and the total financial allocation is Rs. 5.6 billion. A three year action plan was developed covering the entire spectrum of solid waste management and the following major activities have been carried out so far by the Pilisaru Project (PP).

PP has taken steps to construct large scale composting plant complexes at various locations in the country. The plant at Medirigiriya has been already completed and currently it is in operation. Construction activities of Compost Plant complexes at Anuradhapura is completed and is under operation now. Constructions of the two major plants at the old waste dump at Pothuwilkumbura in Kolonnawa and Pohorawatta in Kalutara have just started and both are expected to be completed within this year. Planning and designing of a large scale plant complex at Hikkaduwa is under way. The total financial allocation earmarked for the large scale compost plants are to the tune of Rs. 372.0 million. Arrangements are being made to obtain a land in extent of 43 acres in Bopitiya area to develop a compost plant and a sanitary landfill site to manage the waste generated in Colombo area in an emergency situation.

Establishment of sanitary landfills

To ensure environmentally safe disposal of residual waste derived after the composting process, PP has been planning to set up large scale sanitary landfills at several locations serving a large number of LAs in cluster basis. The sites identified are Malamulla in Panadura, Keerikkulama in Anuradhapura, Udaganawa in Medirigiriya, Monroviawatta in Hikkaduwa and Gonadikawatta close to Gampola. The moreover, a full fledged sanitary landfill is to be constructed at Maligawatta, Dompe with the technical and financial collaboration of the Republic of Korea (through the KOICA) to bring about final disposal facilities to waste generated within the Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha area. The Korean government extends financial assistance of Rs. 450 million which includes technical cooperation, capacity building, and supply of infrastructure, machineries and vehicles. KOICA has already supplied two vehicles, completed two overseas training programs and fielded several missions to carry out pre-feasibility study at the site.

However, the unwarranted public protests, often backed by local political groups have become a great obstacle to make these initiatives realities. It is envisaged to obtain financial support for some of the major sanitary landfills from the Government of Korea.

Small Scale Solid Waste Management Projects for Local Authorities

PP have assisted more than 41 LAs to establish small scale compost plants and other infrastructure facilities required for composting process and recycling of non-degradable waste. Most of these plants are in operation at present earning a sizable income for the LAs by selling compost products on the one hand and help minimize the negative environmental impacts in the other. Construction work of the six plants in several LAs funded recently are under way while a few more LAs have been earmarked for providing support in the year 2010.

Over Rs.92.0 million has been incurred during the last two years for the construction of these facilities.

Similarly, PP has provided more than Rs. 94.0 million out of the total budgeted amount of Rs.108.69 million to the Solid Waste Management Supporting Centre of the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils to establish Environmental Preservation Centres for Kuliyapitiya Urban Council, Nawalapitiya Urban Council, Badulla Municipal Council and Matara Municipal Council. The support includes construction of compost plants, facility building, store rooms office, watcher huts, fencing, and providing machinery and vehicles such as skid steer loaders.

Construction of Biogas Plants for Local Authorities

PP also supported the Gampaha Municipal Council to put up two Biogas units to safely dispose market waste. These units have been constructed in the Council premises and the biogas so generated is supplied to nearby households. Additionally, Feather Collection Foundation submitted a proposal seeking assistance of Pilisaru Project to promote household type bio gas plants and the evaluation of the proposal is under way.

Distribution of Composting bins and waste collection bins

As a means of providing onsite solutions for the organic waste generated in households, particularly in the urban and sub-urban areas, PP has developed a program to assist LAs by way of supplying plastic compost bins at a subsidized rate (half of the purchasing price). The LAs are advised to supply them to the public, in turn, at 1/4 of a cost of a bin thus the LAs bearing the balance. So far, nearly 15,000 bins have been delivered to more than 45 LAs to be distributed among the households. In addition, bins were also given free to schools and religious places for use as model composers for the benefit of the schoolchildren and pilgrims respectively.

Pilisaru Project provides domestic type compost bins to any local authority at half rate to promote household level composting. Another 10,000 bins have been ordered to meet the requests made by several other LAs.

Supply of Waste Collection and Transport Vehicles and Land filling equipment/machinery as reward for good performing Local Authorities.

PP has taken initiative to support LAs to improve the collection and transport of waste by providing tractors (both engines and compartmentalized trailers), landmaster tractors and handcarts.

Based on the recommendation of a technical panel, PP will also provide skid steer loaders, wheel loaders and excavators to LAs, where facilities are available for large scale composting and final disposal of residual waste. Tender process for the procurement of the above items is over by now and evaluation of the bids are already under way. Similarly, PP supplied 15 Skip buckets to Colombo Municipal Council at a total cost of Rs 2.20 million to streamline the waste collection system in areas where low income people live. The traditional practices adopted by these people are to throw the garbage alongside the main roads causing a nuisance to the passers-by.

Therefore, both the CMC as well as those who live in these congested areas will find win-win situation to manage the waste by using these skip buckets once properly placed.

Sanasa - Pilisaru Banking system

The Pilisaru Project introduced a waste banking system known as Sanasa - Pilisaru waste paper recycle banking system whereby the

schoolchildren can take part in promoting the recycling of paper while at the same time earning financial benefits. The prime objective of this initiative is to change the behaviourial attitude of children towards proper waste management practices and at the same time to promote paper recycling in line with the national solid waste management strategy of 2007.

So far, this banking system has been introduced to more than 105 schools mostly in the Western and the Southern Provinces. Sanasa Development Bank and private sector recycling company have come forward to join hands with the Pilisaru Project to implement this program in the schools.

Waste management promotional activities

A Documentary titled 'Rata Saru Pilisaru' and a Docudrama on 'Balan Kadathura Hera Dese' were produced and action was taken to telecast these programs on National Rupavahini with a view to raise awareness of the public, mainly on the practice of 3-R system and the advantages of sanitary landfilling for final disposal of waste respectively. Action was also taken to produce 10 episodes (each having a duration of 5 minutes) of a novel television program titled 'Mr. Green' which was produced following the art brought to light in the 'Mr. Bean' program.

In an effort to promote the concepts of reduce and reuse, PP implements a program whereby cloth bags are distributed free among the attendees at various national cultural, religious and other important functions as a substitute for polythene bags. More than 30,000 bags have been distributed so far at these events.

Pilisaru Parisara Gammana and Pilisaru Pivithuru Pasal (school) are two other programs being implemented by the PP in the villages and in schools in the Western Province, mainly to promote the use of compost in home gardening, farming, horticulture etc. in place of inorganic fertilizer. Through these programs, it has been able to raise the awareness and inculcate the importance of organic farming among the people at grass roots level effectively. More than 60 Pilisaru Parisara Gammana programs in 36 different Divisional Secretariat Divisions and about 50 Pilisaru Pivithuru Pasal programs were already implemented.

Establishment of Pilisaru Parisara Balakaya

A "Pilisaru Parisara Balakaya" (PPB) was established taking representative from the Pilisaru Parisara Gammana Program with the objective of, inter alia, serving as leaders in organizing the villagers to promote household solution in waste management.

This PPB is an informal arrangement to communicate between the Pilisaru project and the villagers who have participated in the PPG program.

The Inaugural function of PPB was held at Maharagama Youth Council on November 18, 2009 with the participation of about 1800 people.

Publishing of Documents

PP has taken steps to produce and publish several reports, as given below, each of which addressing various issues and other aspects of the waste management in line with the National Solid Waste Management Strategy.

"Guidelines for the Establishment of Provincial Steering Committees and Local Authority level Operational Committees for Solid Waste Management".

"Promoting Public-Private Partnership for Solid Waste Management"

'Strengthening the existing regulatory mechanism and legal framework for solid waste management.

"Existing regulatory Mechanism and Legal Framework"

Uthuru Wasanthaya Program

Under the Uthuru Wasanthaya Program, the PP has supplied the Commissioner of Local Government of the Northern Province 2000 Plastic Compost Bins for the distribution among the LAs and the schools in the Northern Province. 1800 waste collection plastic bins (of 3 different colours) will also be supplied for schools shortly under the above program.

Similarly, 1565 and 180 waste collection bins were given free to IDP camps at Settikulam and Madhu Shrine respectively.

Divisional Environmental officers, Assistant Directors of the CEA and Technical Officers, Public Health Officers and Waste Management Supervisors who are attached to LAs were provided with hands-on comprehensive training on Solid Waste Management and composting by organizing residential training workshops. Detailed theoretical knowledge on the scientific aspects of land, filling were also included in the program to harness the latest techniques of landfilling.

The composting projects operated by the Weligama UC and Negombo MC was selected as the venue for practical exercises while the JICA funded landfill at N'Eliya was selected to provide training on landfill aspects. The experts drawn from Universities and International Organizations serve as the Resources Person voluntarily.

The Bloemendhal dumping site has an approximately 16 acres with an average height of 30 m and believed to have contained about 1.5-2.5 million tons of garbage in it. At present, this site has been suspended for dumping of garbage by the Supreme Court (SC (F/R) No.218/09) in view of the persistent environmental degradation.

The Supreme Court gave an Order to PP to rehabilitate the Bloemendhal dumping site within a period of 9 months from September 2009. PP has developed a concept proposal with 3 different options viz; Eco Park, Green Park and Container yard, each having different levels of engineering interventions and management resulting in diverse advantages and outcomes. A diagrammatic representation of the options are shown.

With a view to facilitate the proper decisions making and support optimum design process, it was decided to carry out a pre-feasibility study first and accordingly Dr. Mahesh Jayaweera, Senior Lecturer of the University of Moratuwa has been entrusted with this study. Giving effect to a Cabinet decision, the PP also pursues acquiring the Bloemendhal site subject to following the land acquisition process.

(The writer is the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources).