Post on 11-May-2018
LESSONSIRRC Lessons Learnt Dissemination of Integrated
Resource Recovery (IRRC) Project
It is about the millions of people who are
vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change. It is about the numerous resources being managed inefficiently. It is about improper
solid waste management that has compromised the lives of many. And it is
about you, who understand the gravity of the matter and want to mitigate the risks.
Un-Habitat Pakistan Campaign Report
THE IRRC LESSONS LEARNT CAMPAIGN MEMBERS
Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan (MOCC)
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Pakistan
Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan Memorial Trust (AHKMT)
Jammu Kashmir Cooperative Housing Society (JKCHS)
Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (AAUR)
BACKGROUND OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT In the cities of developing countries across Asia and the Pacific,
rapidly growing quantities of waste are being generated. An urgent
shift towards a waste-to-resource approach is required in order to
address this. Typically, the organic fraction of solid waste in cities of
developing countries in the region averages between 51-65 percent,
with the fraction of recyclable inorganic waste averaging between 26-
33 percent. As well as a challenge, this presents a considerable and
largely untapped opportunity for resource recovery.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CONTEXT OF
PAKISTAN
Pakistan is no exception. In Islamabad, rates of solid waste
generation per capita continue to climb. In 2004, the total
waste generated in the city was 500-600 tonnes; this rose to
800-1000 tonnes by 2011. A large portion of this waste,
approximately 60-65 percent, is organic and a further 20-30 per
cent is recyclable. As a result, in 2015, the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UN ESCAP), in partnership with UN-Habitat Pakistan, Waste
Concern, Akhtar Hameed Khan Memorial Trust, and Jammu
Kashmir Cooperative Housing Society implemented the
project for the country’s first Integrated Resource Recovery
Centre (IRRC) in Sector G15, Islamabad. The IRRC is an
innovative waste-to-resource model that has proven effective
in a number of cities across Asia and the Pacific.
RATIONALE BEHIND THE IRRC MODEL
Like other waste-to-resource initiatives, the IRRC model
offers, to municipalities and communities, alternative ways
of treating and disposing of waste. Successful initiatives rely
upon strong government commitment, sound operational
and financial management, behaviour change, and
community engagement for separation of waste at source,
and partnership building with a range of stakeholders.
Replication of the IRRC model in Islamabad, and in other
cities in Pakistan, is therefore a priority next step for
expanding the agenda of sustainable waste management,
waste-to-resource practices and principles of 3R in Pakistan.
This in turn contributes to on-going climate change
mitigation efforts in the country.
THE IRRC LESSONS LEARNT WORKSHOP
Following the successful messaging for Solid Waste
Management, it was time for relevant stakeholders
to sit together and discuss the future of solid waste
management in Pakistan. For this purpose, the
IRRC Lessons Learnt Workshop was organized on
20 January, 2016 with the objective:
“Introducing the IRRC to relevant stakeholders and exploring preliminary results
following three months of operations at Sector G-15 IRRC pilot facility; and discussing
opportunities for replication of the IRRC model in Pakistan”
The IRRC Lessons Learnt Workshop brought together relevant
Government ministries, donor organizations, academia, researchers, solid
waste management companies, civil society, private sector, media, and UN
agencies who undertook dialogue along the following lines:
The current waste-to-resource scenario in Pakistan;
Opportunities and challenges of waste-to-resource initiatives in
Pakistan; and
The IRRC pilot facility in Sector G-15 and prospects of its replication
in other cities of Pakistan
THE IRRC LESSONS LEARNT WORKSHOP SESSIONS
SESSION 1: The Integrated Resource Recovery Centre in Sector G15, Islamabad
The Integrated Resource Recovery Centre in Asia-Pacific
Mr. Joao Aleluia and Mr. Rowan Fraser, UN ESCAP
Piloting the IRRC model in Sector G15, Islamabad, Presentation
Ms. Bella Evidente, Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat
Results and Performance of the IRRC toDdate, Presentation
Sumaira Gul, Programme Manager, Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan Memorial Trust
Benefits of the IRRC for the Community in G15, Intervention
Mr. Latif Qureshi, Chairman, Jammu Kashmir Cooperative Housing Society
Exposure Visit to the Integrated Resource Recovery Centre in Sector G15, Islamabad
SESSION 2: An Overview of Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Pakistan
Mr. Azeem Khoso, Ministry of Climate Change
Mr. Nasir Ghafoor, WSS Peshawar
Mr. Mahmood Abbas Shah, MD NSUSC
Mr. Shakeel Gillani, Secretary Municipal Corporation, Muzaffarabad
DATE & VENUE OF THE IRRC WORKSHOP
The IRRC Lessons Learnt Workshop was held on 20
January 2016 in Crystal Ball Room Hall A, Marriott
Hotel, Islamabad, Pakistan. The event programme was
from 09:00 am to 04:45 pm.
SYNOPSIS OF THE PROGRAMME
A welcome address was given by Ms. Jannat Durrani, WASH Officer UN-Habitat Pakistan followed
by an introductory note by Mr. Azeem Khoso, Ministry of Climate Change. The opening speeches
gave way to the presentations by panellists in Session , an exposure visit to the IRRC facility in G-15,
and ensuing dialogue discussion in Session 2
VERVIEW Findings from Pakistan's first
Integrated Resource Recovery
Center in Islamabad shared by
UN-Habitat, UN-ESCAP, and
Partners
The IRRC is a pilot project of UN-ESCAP
and UN-Habitat which enables the city to
turn waste into resources through
composting, recycling, and bio-digestion
while also creating employment
opportunities.
Ms. Bella Evidente (Country Programme
Manager, UN-Habitat Pakistan), Mr. Joao
Aleluia and Mr. Rowan Fraser (UN-
ESCAP), Mr. Latif Qureshi (General
Secretary, JKCHS), and Ms. Sumaira Gul
(AHKMT) spoke about the efficacy of the
project.
While briefing the media, Mr. Lorenzo
Santucci (Economic Affairs Officer, UN
Escap) said, "Improving waste management
is an urgent agenda in a fast-growing
middle-income country like Pakistan. UN-
ESCAP has been promoting the IRRC
model across Asia-Pacific and it has proven
an effective and affordable solution,
especially in secondary cities and small
towns. The pilot in sector G-15 in
Islamabad shows that such solutions have a
great potential in Pakistan as well".
Ms. Evidente opined that, "The pilot IRRC
at Sector G-15 showcases the collaborative
efforts of the Government, UN-ESCAP
and UN-Habitat, communities, civil society
and academia. It has not only improved
facilities for the collection, recycling,
treatment and disposal of solid waste but
has significantly contributed to the cost-
effective, sustainable and climate-friendly
management of solid waste and highlighted
the potentials of turning waste into
resources."
Representing the private housing societies
of Islamabad, Mr. Latif Qureshi commented
that, “there are numerous social, economic,
and environmental benefits of this project
to the community of JKCHS. I would urge
other private housing societies and the
government to include it in their existing
and upcoming development projects to
ensure environment friendly solid waste
management”.
Representatives from MOCC, Economic
Affairs Division Government of Pakistan,
Ministry of Planning Development and
Reforms, Unicef, UNIDO, UNDP, Arid
Agriculture University, WSSP, NSUSC,
Municipal Corporation Muzaffarabad, ADC
Muzaffarabad, WASA Hyderabad,
Gujranwala WMC, Rawalpindi WMC,
HANDS, IUCN, and Local body elected
representatives were also present at the
event along with other notables from the
O
private housing societies, development
sector, and academia. The participants
pledged their support by writing messages
and signing on the Pledge Flex on display at
the Workshop venue. The IRRC Lessons
Learnt campaign was also a huge success on
social media, reaching above 13 million
impressions on Twitter and trending on 19
and 20 January throughout Pakistan.
The IRRC receives 3 tons of municipal solid
waste per day from surrounding local
communities and nearby vegetable markets
and produces compost and biogas. It is a
pilot project that will test the feasibility of
this model in Pakistan and its potential for
replication to other sectors in Islamabad
and Rawalpindi. In the medium term, the
replication of this model to other cities of
Pakistan is envisaged.
ESSION 1 Discussion points relevant to background
information and performance of the IRRC model
in Sector G15, Islamabad
Mr. Joao Aleluia
Programme Manager
UN-Escap
Mr. Rowan Fraser
Project Consultant
UN-Escap
Their session majorly talked about How to
promote the Integrated Resource Recovery
Center Model in Pakistan and create that as
benchmark and take it beyond. They
elaborated the Challenges of managing Solid
wastes in Pakistan and also shared how
other countries overcame their limitations.
This session highlighted how the IRRC
facility will transform waste into resources
and how a significant portion of waste can
be processed into an effective product, in
proximity to source of generation and in a
decentralized manner. The cost
effectiveness of the process was also
discussed and the steps were shared through
pictorials. Sustainable development benefits
of the IRRC waste to resource initiative
along with its economic, social, and
environmental benefits were highlighted,
not to forget how it makes organization
financially sustainable on its own.
S
Ms. Bella Evidente
Country Programme Manager
UN-Habitat Pakistan
Ms. Bella gave an overview of the program
and also talked about how we can help
other cities in the region to help them turn
solid waste crises around. Her main focus
regarding the program was on capacity
development from beginning through
exposure visits, managerial, and hands on
training. In order to implement this pilot
project, she insisted to ensure the following
approach should be taken:
Partnership with Govt./Local
Representatives
Behaviour changing and awareness
sessions
Managing facilities and improving
operations
Creating enabling environment for
scaling up
She also talked about how we can research
further and enhance the collected resources
into a range of projects, and also enhancing
knowledge and capacity through existing
pilot projects, highlighting ESCAP’s online
courses which can help other pilots to
successfully sustain in future. She also talked
about UN Habitat’s mandate and its goal
for sustainable development through solid
waste management and stressed that actions
would be taken both locally and globally at
World Climate Summit, Global Urban
Lectures, and Habitat III Conferences. She
later shared the background of waste to
resource in Islamabad, and the objectives of
this project and its project phases.
Ms. Sumaira Gul
Programme Manager
Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan Memorial
Trust
Ms. Sumaira started her session by
introducing AHKMT, and shared her story
of how the whole project started as a low
cost sanitation project and then later grew
into a solid waste management project.
She highlighted the role of AHKMT in
IRRC and how they are organizing and
coordinating resources to ensure all
operations i.e. collection and segregation of
solid waste, is done along with all the help
IRRC Needs. She further discussed how
solid waste is an avenue of an
entrepreneurial initiative and through its
sustainable nature it can help people
maintain their livelihood. She further
discussed such opportunities i.e. collection
fee, selling recyclable items to concerned
authorities, and creating products from
composites.
Mr. Latif Qureshi
Chairman
Jammu Kashmire Cooperative Housing
Society
Mr. Qureshi talked about the history of the
IRRC project and how it benefits the
housing society, not just by providing a
healthier environment but also by providing
ground level jobs to local citizens to sustain
their livelihood.
He also appreciated UN-Escap, UN
Habitat, IRRC and AHKMT for
implementing a very useful pilot in this
society. He further stressed on how solid
waste is not just a recourse utilization facility
but also an income generation system and
highlighted how IRRC projects contain lots
of social benefits like awareness and
sensitization, quality waste management
service, along with increasing value of the
society. He also talked about economic
benefits, Institutional benefits, and
Community benefits through such
initiatives.
XPOSURE VISIT Tour by UN-Habitat and Dr. Akhtar
Hameed Khan Memorial Trust of the IRRC
facility in G-15, Islamabad, Pakistan
After these sessions all the participants visited
the IRRC Facility in Islamabad Sector G-15,
where team members of UN Habitat, UN
ESCAP, AHKMT and people from other
organizations saw the facility and its
functionality. At the location, members of
AHKMT welcomed all visitors and introduced
the facility to them. They shared how the
project works and how the waste is effectively
distributed into composites which are later
turned into fertilizer. He further elaborated
about the dos and don’ts for employees which
serves as the bylaws of their work ethics while
they are out collecting trash.
Team IRRC later showed all cells where they
explained how much time it takes to convert
waste into the product and how the waste goes
through different processes. Team IRRC also
highlighted the cost effective measures they
have taken for on-going activities for electric
usage and water storage to make sure the
facility can sustain on its own for operations
without additional help from different
municipal organizations. Key features of the
facility are that it can take three tons of waste
on daily basis which later will be turned into
their product of fertilizer which they have
name “Haryali Khad”. Team further
highlighted that this facility is only facilitating
Sector G-15 at the moment and further such
facilities can help develop a cleaner and
environment friendly Pakistan.
Team also showed the biogas plan which will
later get operational to ensure that the facility is
100% self-sufficient and independent.
After further review, team members returned
back to Marriott Hotel for the remaining
session.
E
ESSION 2 Discussion points relevant to waste-to-resource
practices and initiatives in Pakistan, including
current trends, common practices and
challenges, and new ideas and opportunities
Dr. Arshad Nawaz, Director Advanced Studies,
AAUR, talked about his research work on Solid
Waste Management. His core discussion point
was on composting of municipal solid waste
prospects and perspective in Agriculture
University. He described the whole process of
how composting, how it is done, what
procedures and operations are involved in it,
and how it is useful for further processes. He
elaborated the different stages of temperature
where different components are separated from
organic waste and recycled. He further provided
the Compost Analysis Report for different
samples which were taken by extensive
Research by his university.
Mr. Azeem Khoso, Director Urban affairs,
Ministry of Climate Change welcomed all the
partners and participants and elaborated that
MOCC will be providing full technical support
to all partners who initiated the project and
also to those who implement this project. He
also declared that MOCC supports all such
initiatives and projects which are done in a
legal manner. He informed that EPA has
already carried out a survey with the support of
the community and management society
development.
S
Similarly, all the other panellists, Mr. Nasir
Ghafoor from WSS Peshawar, Mr. Mahmood
Abbas Shah, MD NSUSC, and Mr. Shakeel
Gillani, Secretary Municipal Cooperation,
Muzaffarabad shared their views about IRRC
project and discussed about the initiatives they
have been taken in their regions regarding
waste management.
Ms. Bella summed up the discussion in a very
appropriate manner and gave the closing
remarks. She appreciated all the participants
who enthusiastically participated in the IRRC
Lessons Learnt workshop.
CREATING A HYPE THROUGH #LESSONSIRRC SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
The social media campaign comprised of three
waste management activities over a period of two
weeks dedicated to social media advocacy.
Exclusive hashtags #LessonsIRRC and
#SortYourWaste were developed which were used
for advocacy purpose. Hence, hype was created
before 20 January 2016 in order to build up a
platform for dissemination of lessons learnt on
the day of the Workshop.
A team activity was conducted for UN-Habitat
staff, and public awareness campaign was
undertaken in sector G-15 and E-11 of Islamabad.
Messages and comments from public were taken
and uploaded on social media, these messages
went viral and gained massive recognition not just
in Pakistan but also internationally.
From January 17 to 21, 2016, #SortYourwWaste
was trending in Pakistan multiple times for an
hour and collectively 3 hours whereas it was
trending regionally (KHI, LHR, ISL) for more
than 9 hours. Especially in Karachi alone, where it
was trending for more than 6 hours in one go.
On 18 January 201, in just first 3 hours of the
activity, the overall impressions went from 90,000
to 6 million and by activity end, overall
impressions reached more than 13 million. People
started talking about #SortYourWaste and it
became one of the most talked about topics of the
day.
On the day of the IRRC Lessons Learnt
Workshop, the social media campaign was on ful
peak when Pakistan was shaken by the tragic
terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University,
Charsadda, causing an immediate halt in the social
media activity due to time sensitivity. The social
media activities commenced again after devoting a
moment of silence to the martyrs and affected
people of the Charsadda incident.
#SortYourWaste again began trending from 10:30
am onwards and sustained for more than 4 hours.
Overall the impressions for the day went beyond 9
million and buzz was created on the day with
multiple messages, pictures, and comments being
shared online.
The reach was not just confined within Pakistan
but extended to an international level. A hype was
created and social media influencers began talking
about the issue. The IRRC lessons learnt
campaign was hence not just within the event
walls only.
IRRC LESSONS LEARNT WORKSHOP MEDIA CAMPAIGN
It was expected that the event would not gain
much recognition on print and electronic media
owing to the sensitivity of the timings. All the
newspapers and media channels devoted
maximum paper space and airtime to the
Charsadda incident. Upon pushing extensively and
rolling out the Press Release thrice, only Pakistan
Observer gave news coverage to the IRRC
Lessons Learnt Workshop. However, the lack of
media coverage was compensated by the extensive
social media coverage which helped disseminate
the message of waste-to-resource and effective
solid waste management, creating more than 22
million impressions over a period of two weeks.
Pakistan Observer – January 23, 2016