Does This Not Disgust you?A Comprehensive Research on Pakistan’s Issues concerning Garbage Disposal and Government and Social Efforts to Improve Them in Islamabad.

The ProblemThe Pakistani Nation is, sadly, enveloped in a mixture of political, social and environmental problems. One of the country’s major problems, concerning specifically the environment, is waste management. This is portrayed very clearly in the urban, as well as rural areas, by large, unpleasing lots of accumulating, ever-increasing loads of garbage, which, due to improper ways of disposal, and lack of scientific lines, become breeding points for various disease-causing species.

Types of garbage in Pakistan

The garbage produced in Pakistan can roughly be classified into three types:Municipal Solid Waste (M

SW)Hospital WastePersistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Municipal Solid Waste: What is it?

Municipal Solid Waste is generally described as useless or unwanted material as a result of human or animal activity.This is most commonly solid, semi-solid or liquid waste.New technology and commercialization in rural areas have increased production there as well. Alarmingly, the per capita production of MSW in Pakistan per day is up to 0.612 kg, which increases by 2.4% annually.

Accumulation of MSW: Why?

97% of Pakistan’s landfills’ content consists of MSW. This accumulation is due to:No proper waste collectionDumping of waste on streetsUnclassified waste: all types of waste dumped togetherUncontrolled landfill sanitary sitesUnawareness of hazards amongst public

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are found in very little quantities in Pakistan; yet these make up 0.1 to 0.5% of all waste produced in the country. POPs are toxic synthetic organic chemicals that are used in industry and agriculture, as well as created unintentionally through chlorine combustion processesIndustrial chemicals and other unwanted byproducts like Dioxins come under this category.These tend to accumulate in the fat layers of bodies, which makes their growth a serious environmental issue.POPs are readily spread through air and/or water, therefore, their production anywhere in the world is a serious global threat.

Persistent organic pollutants

How Persistent organic pollutants act Do we think about the risks before we use the POPs?

Who is responsible for Garbage Accumulation?

Neither the Government, nor the public can be held completely responsible for garbage accumulation in the country. This is evident especially in Karachi where at the biggest dumpsite of Jam Chakro (500 acres), no environmental checks exist. The site is, therefore termed by the scientists as ‘a recipe for an environmental disaster’. The reason behind this are numerous; only a few are discussed here.Out of 9,000 tonnes of garbage produced everyday, only 5,000 tones reaches the government-designated landfills. It is this remaining 3,000 tones that forms those unsightly landfills at the corners of every street.In the metropolis, Karachi, the urban landscape is dotted so frequently with the city’s landscape that more or less, they merge with the sights of the city.Lack of coordination between the government and town nazims leads to uncontrolled amounts of garbage reaching the landfills.Organic, inorganic and non-biodegradable, old building material and hazardous waster, i.e., chemical or hospital waste, all go unchecked and unclassified into the dumps. This variety of types of garbage makes it almost impossible to handle the load of accumulated garbage.

Scientific & Health hazardsThe only considered way of disposing off garbage in Pakistan is seen as burning. Pointing out the health hazards it poses, Dr. Nasiruddin Khan, senior faculty member of the University of Karachi (Chemistry Dept.) said that burning of garbage means release of toxic nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, volatile organic chemicals and polycyclic organic matter. Moreover, he said that burning plastic also releases heavy metals and toxic chemicals such as dioxin.No check exists on this and people exposed to these generally complain of eye and nose irritation, breathing difficulties, coughing and headaches.Improper disposal of hospital waste contributes to spreading of dangerous diseases like Hepatitis A, B and C, chicken pox, AIDS, typhoid, etcetera.Burning of hospital waste can cause cancer, birth defects, decreased psychomotor ability, hearing defects, cognitive defects, etcetera. Persistent Organic Pollutions are not manageable and their disposing is highly contagious to human health.

What about future?As all sorts of waste reaches the landfills, the dangers are not restricted to just land, but to air and water as well.As solid waste is burnt, and generally does not burn well, smouldering clouds are seen which smell toxic. What left behind is dirty smelling waste-a celebration for mosquitoes, rats and flies in near future.Waste is also often thrown into the naalas. This causes high-level water pollution. Plus, as garbage is also a breeding site for bacteria, methane gas is produced due to which water is contaminated and is liable to quickly become unsafe for human and animal consumption.Over a period of time, this is expected to ruin the underground water sources as well.

A very disgusting viewThese are COCKROACHES on a dustbin with rotting rubbish!

Another very disgusting viewA big swarm of mosquitoes and flies partying over a big dump of uncovered garbage

Efforts in three other countries to reduce Garbage Problems England:

Fishing was banned at the Thames River to reduce pollution. Fine was imposed on those who tried to litter in the river. This was the strategy later used for roads and parks as well.

GermanyThe country played its role in controlling garbage by excessive recycling. They also introduced a “Green Dot”

system, which helped them cut down the waste production up to one million tonnes.

SingaporeLast in the list is Singapore, which has made exemplary attempts to control waste production. Campaigns like

“Zero Waste Singapore” had a great impact for which is now the cleanest country of the world. Special emphasis was laid on toxic waste control which preserved the nation’s scenic beauty. New recycling strategies were developed to make garbage sustainable.

Pakistan’s Efforts to Control GarbageThough laws exist, less of them are being enforced, and acted upon. Even the law-enforcing agencies are seen breaking those laws. The government is making some efforts to minimize the rate of garbage production in the country, as indicated in the National Study for Privatisation of Solid Waste Management in eight cities of Pakistan, EPMC, 1996.

Based on this study, the Government of Pakistan enacted the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) in 1997—the most recent and updated legislation on the environment. It provides a framework for establishing federal and provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs).

A few Laws Concerning Garbage Presently, the legal rules and regulations dealing with solid waste management in Pakistan are as follows:Section 11 of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act prohibits discharge that violates National Environmental Quality Standards. Draft Hazardous Substances Rules of 1999.Islamabad Capital Territory By Laws, 1968, by Capital Development Authority Islamabad.Section 132 of Cantonment Act 1924 deals with deposits and disposal of rubbish.Provisions contained in Local Government Ordinance, 2001.

A Ray of Hope?The environmentalists should be happy now—the growth of awareness amongst youngsters of the country of all financial classes has led them to take action against garbage.

Youngsters of Lahore’s Gulberg Town themselves formed a committee they called ‘Zimmedar Shehri’ and devoted themselves to clear the town of unwanted waste wherever possible, only on Sundays. Though simple, it aims for a better environment of a country facing political instability.Another thing was seen recently in Islamabad, where the Capital Development Authority (CDA) actually fined a guy named Ahmed Ali when he was spotted throwing a disposable plate out of the window of a running car in sector F-10 on 14th October 2011.

What can I do?

As an individual, firstly try to minimise the amount of garbage you produce.Try to reuse, if possible, any of the refuse.Now for the big step: before dumping, make sure to classify the different types of garbage. Keep paper separate, plastic separate, wood separate, and so on. In this way you facilitate the landfill management to manage the landfill sites, and control the amount of garbage in the landfills.