ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated studies for recycling and disposal of solid waste aimed at reducing environmental pollution in the city.

The initiative includes waste characterisation, waste generation studies, a situational analysis report, municipal solid waste collection, haulage, treatment and disposal, rapid assessment report of landfill sites and communication and behaviour change strategy, an official said.

The Urban Unit Lahore carried out studies from January to March 2023 with a total cost of Rs21.9 million. However, CDA has been unable to develop a proper system for solid waste disposal owing to land unavailability and legal issues.

The authority is working on developing a system whereby it will be initiating a mechanism of solid waste minimisation, reuse, segregation at source and recycling of waste keeping in view the standards for optimum disposal using the method of landfilling. These activities will take about a year. The CDA launched a pilot project to segregate solid waste last year to reduce environmental pollution and use items for recycling on a commercial basis.

It is a critical requirement since it enables recycling, reuse, treatment and scientific disposal of different components of waste.

Sorting out waste makes it easier to understand how to reduce general waste output, identify items that can be reused and set aside others that should be recycled. Waste segregation practices and a workforce that understands the importance of sorting waste prevent items suitable for recycling from being thrown away with general waste.

Approximately, 700 tonnes of solid waste is collected and transported by the Sanitation Directorate and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) from the federal capital daily.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2023