Project to generate energy from waste

Orison International, a Malaysian institute is embarking on a project with the Karadhiyana Waste Management Authority to generate energy by burning waste and refuse.

The Authority plans to introduce good workplace practices here too. Clearly, waste management has fast become a global concern, and ILO's effort to green these jobs to ensure its eco-friendly worker-centred-management is significant.

The three acre waste management site in Bankiyawaththa does not use harmful chemicals and workers are provided with a safe environment. Good work practices are observed. Out of 17 health labourers, 13 were women. Eight women and two men have NVQ qualification through the UC sponsored training program. Though some of the workers are casual workers, benefits such as bonuses, provident fund benefits and loan facilities are also extended to them.

Consultants Gemunu and Haritha, enlisted by the ILO-Australia Partnership Agreement/ Green Jobs in Asia project, to provide value chain development interventions in the Western Province have toured Balangoda and are now ready to support replication of some of these practices in the Western Province.

The Balangoda Urban Council is responsible for waste management of four Pradeshiya Sabha divisions.

The chairman is Nimal Gamini Weerasinghe. PHI Nimal is responsible to 'green' waste management. He has built a model to integrate a decent work system. Households were the first step in handling waste management.

Three methods of waste as a resource for collection were used to support children to stay in school, to participate better and be aware of environmental issues. Activities are operated with schools and the community.

The Urban Council has set up a system to collect waste. Once the waste is handed over to the collection point, the household and cottage industry earn credits against the estimates.

This segregation of waste from source to collection point, has provided many workers in the UC with good jobs and will reach 10,000 households by 2012 with good practices for waste segregation and provide about 10,000 children with incentives to stay in school. Karadhiyana is another dump site. Here the staff work an eight-hour shift. They have 27 workers, out of which only eight are men and the other 19 are women. Due to the welfare system many employees are able to salvage second-hand books and recyclable goods for the children.

Safety and health of workers at this site is ensured. Waste collecting techniques have also been improved due to the ILO's technical guidance. The collecting trucks now have sheets that cover the waste when being brought in, and there are collection carts used to ensure dogs and cats cannot access the waste.