Effective garbage disposal model at Deyata Kirula exhibition

by Rohantha ATHUKORALA

Effective waste disposal is an essential element to protect human health and bio diversity in our country. Solid and Liquid waste is becoming an increasing and significant problem in urban areas and near industrial zones.

To create awareness about this issue and show how it can be managed effectively, a model system implemented in Sri Lanka was presented at Dayata Kirula exhibition in Anuradhapura by the Eastern Provincial Council. It was one of the most popular stalls and it not only attracted the students interested in Environment Science but also commerce students-given the business opportunities available - be it the recycling business and energy generation initiatives.

Solid waste management

The Integrated Solid Waste Management program in Ampara is considered by many to be a one of the most effective programs in the country. It was explained in detail to visitors, through a miniature replication of the facilities network, the equipment used, and the different processes involved.

The cycle of activities is managed by local authorities organised in clusters, to benefit from economies of scale.

It starts from waste segregation at the household level, collection of segregated garbage in households and local businesses, where the residual wastes are transported to the transfer station and finally to landfill, biodegradable waste delivered in composting facility for processing and recyclable waste to the recycling centres.

The program is funded by the European Union and implemented by 12 local authorities in Ampara with technical support from the United Nations Office for Project Services(UNOPS).

The exhibit demonstrated how the Cluster Waste Management Scheme works, where participating local authorities (Kalmunai, Sammanthurai, Nintavur and Karaitivu) manage their own collection system.

The Waste Transfer Station receives waste for disposal from the LAs is brought by tipper trucks to the landfill site at the Addalaichenai Pradeshiya Sabha. The biodegradable wastes are brought separately to compost facilities and the final products sold in 25kg packs via the cooperative system to paddy farmers. Other recyclable waste is compressed into cubes and sold to local traders.

A student from the Anuradhapura Girls' School said, 'If we can sort the garbage in our house before giving it to the garbage truck, the process will be easier'. Promoting awareness of such simple household behaviour change was the objective of exhibiting the solid waste management project at Deyata Kirula, said an official at the stall.

Next step

The exhibition had an interactive zone about the next steps needed to make the project successful in the long term.

One initiative extensively discussed was the implementation of a fee structure where households, private sector companies and tourist hotels can be charged so that the waste disposal system managed by local authorities can be financially self-sustainable.

Currently on a total generation of 210 tons of waste in urban Ampara, almost 132 MT moves through the Solid Waste Management program operated by the local authorities, with UNOPS support.

A senior citizen who visited the Deyata Kirula stall said that based on this pilot project, the Solid Waste management program can be rolled out to the rest of the country so that we could avoid the incubation of diseases that were rampant in the recent past.

Many visitors said that they wanted to live in a cleaner environment, and protect the beautiful areas which are a blessing this country, such as beaches, lagoons and mountains.