Lack of land, a drawback to waste management

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry have launched a program to solve the land-related issue on waste management by the end of this year to streamline solid waste management by local government authorities in the country, Secretary to the Ministry R.A.A.K. Ranawake said.

He said many local authorities are facing difficulties in implementing solid waste management projects as they do not have lands to implement their solid waste management projects. "Therefore, the Ministry has decided to resolve these land related problems by looking for suitable lands to launch their solid waste management projects", he said.

To find the lands the Ministry is now holding discussions with officials of the Forest Department, Land Reforms Commission, Plantation Industries Ministry, Coconut Development Authority and other government institutions which have lands that could be used for the purpose.

The Ministry Secretary said that many Local Government bodies are willing to launch solid waste management projects and their efforts had been hindered due to lack of lands for these projects.

He said that the time is now ripe to launch a national level program to encourage all Local Government authorities to go for proper solid waste management projects by educating the public on separating garbage at the waste generation points and by resolving the problems faced by the Local Government bodies as the management of solid waste has become a burning issue at present in many areas.