Mansoor Sadiq

Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) has planned Smart Environment Sanitation System and Landfill Project to tackle approximately 150 tons of solid waste accumulated daily in the port city. The initiative has been planned after the surfacing of solid waste management issues due to increased residential, construction and commercial activities in Gwadar city. Rahmanullah Jogezai, a senior official of GDA, said the project is expected to commence soon to dispose of the mounting heaps of garbage.

Gwadar is developing as a hub of economic and construction activities, and many projects are continuing under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC.) As a result of these large-scale economic activities, solid waste needs to be tackled with precautionary measures. “The project aims to provide a smart sanitation and solid waste management plan to ensure sustainable development in Gwadar city. It includes mechanical cleaning and manual cleaning for which sprinkler trucks and sweeper trucks will be used,” Jogezai said.

The official said the project also includes container collection, manual collection and transportation systems. He said sealed waste containers shall be placed in public and residential areas, and door-to-door collection will be arranged by the solid waste management staff. Jogezai said solid waste is primarily composed of metal, paper, plastic, rubber, animal waste, food waste, grass, leaves, textile waste, glass, bones, stones, etc.

“Primarily, waste can be classified into municipal solid waste and hazardous waste. However, in terms of its recycling potential, solid waste can be classified into metal, plastic, paper, glass and rubber items,” he said. “If recycling companies are engaged in Gwadar, all these waste items have got a price tagged to them and are sold and processed through recycling to produce useful products for the market,” he added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk