Waste management

A reliable and efficient garbage and refuse collection system is a hallmark of any civilised and modern society. Recently, the frequency of garbage collection in and around the city of Karachi and its environs has been greatly reduced. As a result, piles of garbage are seen all across the city. In fact, some citizens have resorted to the burning of their uncollected garbage which creates yet another layer of environmental problems. The silence from the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) is further aggravating the situation. It is unhealthy to have so much uncollected garbage across the city. There are many diseases which thrive in an unhealthy environment. Diseases such as the rodent-borne leptospirosis, as well as the mosquito-borne viral diseases of dengue, malaria and Chikungunya all flourish in unsanitary conditions.

It should be very clear that the unreliable and inconsistent collection of garbage is a public health emergency and the authorities need to seriously address the matter with a sense of urgency. There needs to be a designated collection day, so that residents can confidently put out their garbage for collection. Maybe we should look at the possibility of removing the collection of garbage from local to central government to give the process more attention. The time has come for the government to have a national policy on waste management.

Naveed Tanoli

Karachi