Integrating Garbage Recycling Activities into a Solid Waste Management System
Recommendations For The Feasibility
The following recommendations have emerged from the study.
- There should be four landfill sites in Karachi each handling about 1,500 tonnes of solid waste per day. They should be so located that refuse trucks do not have to travel more than 15 kilometers to them.
- Jam Chakro, the present official site should be developed as a model to handle 1,500 tonnes of solid waste per day. It should contain 30 sorting yards and 18 recycling factories along with 600 60 M2 plots for scavengers.
- Scavengers and the recycling industry should be provided with land and the infrastructure that they require for performing their activities. This investment could be made by the KMC or by the private sector.
- The investments and revenues from the landfill sites for different options have been worked out.
- Prevention of scavenging at the kutchra kundis can be stopped if the waste is not exposed and is collected and transported in transferable sealed containers. A number of options for this have been explored which include handing over this work on contract to DMC staff and/or private sector and permitting staff on the solid waste disposal vehicles to negotiate sale of the waste to the scavengers at the landfill sites.
- The new devolution plan of the government offers promising possibilities for improvements in the solid waste management system. The Union Councils (UCs) can be made in-charge of collecting waste to a central pick up point in their jurisdiction. It should be the responsibility of the Town Committees (TCs) or private sector to pick up the waste from the UC and transfer it to a landfill site. The landfill sites should be operated by the KMC or by the private sector.
Capital And O&M Costs For Proposed Landfill Sites
Table – 4
| S. No. | Item | Capital Costs (in Rs) | Operational Cost (in Rs) | Revenue per Year (in Rs) | Shortfall (-)Surplus (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | For 500 tonnes/day module (lower cost option) | 57,035,000 | 6,336,000 | 6,8055,000 | + 469,000 |
| 2. | For 500 tonnes/day module (higher cost option) | 66,150,000 | 7,724,000 | 6,805,000 | - 919,000 |
| 3. | For one of 4 sites 1,500 tonnes/day (lower cost option) 1×3 | 171,105,000 | 11,913,000 | 20,415,000 | + 1,407,000 |
| 4. | For one of 4 sites 1,500 tonnes/day (higher cost option) 2×3 | 198,450,000 | 23,172,000 | 20,415,000 | - 2,757,000 |
| 5. | For all 4 sites 6,000 tonnes/day (lower cost option) 4×3 | 684,420,000 | 47,652,000 | 81,660,000 | + 5,628,000 |
| 6. | For all 4 sites 6,000 tonnes/day (higher cost option) 4×4 | 793,800,000 | 92,688,000 | 81,660,000 | - 11,028,000 |
For the basis of the figures in this table see Appendix – 1.
Missing Issues
There are a number of issues that will need further investigation for a proper physical and financial feasibility. These are:
- Identification of new landfill sites at appropriate locations. At present, only two landfill sites have been identified and both of them are to the north of Karachi. Also, no proper maps for those sites are available with the official agencies.
- The possibilities of taxing the scavengers, dealers and the recycling industry for operating the landfill sites needs to be further investigated. This study has developed a tax proposal based on what the industry owners have proposed.
- The issue of composting the residue organic waste is controversial. Most private sector operators consider it to be a non-profit making venture.
- The present study deals with residential and commercial waste. There is a need to look at hazardous and industrial waste as well.
