Faisalabad Solid Waste Management Company (FSWMC) has acquired 150 acres near Chak 211 to dump solid waste collected from the city.
Talking to The Express Tribune, FSWMC Managing Director Amjad Javaid Awan said a survey by the FSWMC had revealed that over 1,500 metric tonnes solid waste was being generated daily in the city.
He said some of this waste could be used to generate electricity, compost and refuse derived fuel (RDF).
He said currently, 700 metric tonnes per day could be lifted and efforts were under way to enhance capacity of the FSWMC in this regard.
He said a strategy was being evolved to improve sanitation in the city.
He said the FSWMC would introduce a mechanical system to lift large quantities of waste and to transport it to the dumping site.
The MD said GPS tracking had been installed on the lifters to check monitor fuel consumption.
He said the old system of the solid waste management was outdated and had many problems.
He said the sanitation workers were no longer under the town municipal authorities.
He said they had been provided uniforms, shoes and gloves.
He said the workers were being vaccinated and a comprehensive health plan had been evolved for them.
“Apart from collection of domestic waste, a strategy has been evolved to collect construction waste, industrial waste, and hospital waste from areas which have been neglected for several decades. It is the first time that separate strategies are being made for various types of waste,” he said.
He said he hoped the environmental conditions would improve once the new waste management system was operational.
He said a greenery programme had also been incorporated into the policy. He said waste workers would be deployed at public spaces, like food streets and parks, to keep those areas clean.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2014.