CDA urged to use solid waste for energy generation

[Salman]

CDA urged to use solid waste for energy generation

* Poor practices for waste disposal leading cause of health problems, environmental deterioration


ISLAMABAD: Federal Secretary for Science and Technology Ikhlaq Ahmad Tarar, on Friday, said that solid waste could be used to generate electricity and gas, which would help overcome the energy crisis. He said that Capital Development Authority (CDA) might take it as a pilot project and act as a role model for other cities.

Tarar expressed these views while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the ‘International Symposium on Solid Waste Management’, organised by Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) at its auditorium on Friday.

The PSF organised the conference to take up urban, hospital and industrial waste issues that needed to be addressed urgently, as inefficient disposal of waste was the main source of pest attack on economic crops, and poor practices adopted for waste disposal had become one of the leading causes of health problems and environmental deterioration.

The federal secretary said it was very unfortunate that the issue of solid waste management had been poorly handled and as a result the citizens had to face its hazardous effects. He was of the view that certain governance issues and mafias involved in the business of solid waste were the main reasons for inappropriate solid waste management.

He appreciated PSF for providing a platform to different organisations to sensitise them on this very important issue. He called upon the stakeholders to sit together and chalk out strategies for appropriate management of solid waste.

Dr Giulia Costa, an international expert on waste management, from the University of Rome delivered a presentation on waste management. She elaborated the types and composition of solid wastes in different countries and explained the methods being used for its management. She said landfill sites, biological and thermal treatments were the main methods to manage solid waste and that after the treatment only residues should be disposed off at landfill sites.

The expert said waste treatment plants had failed in many countries as they made a lot of mistakes due to the poor designing and lack of skills. She said biological and thermal treatment methods could be used in Pakistan for solid waste management. She added that avoiding generation of solid waste was the most preferable method and its disposal was least preferable. She said the best management was to avoid solid waste generation but if that was not possible then methods to reduce, recycle and treat it should be adapted.