Garbage collection to be outsourced

Karachi
Plans were underway for outsourcing the door-to-door garbage collection and to generate electricity from the gathered compost.
Tenders from the interested companies will be invited next month.
This was disclosed to The News by Managing Director Solid Waste Management Roshan Ali Sheikh on Monday.
These companies would also generate electricity from the trash, which would help in overcoming the power shortage in the city. When asked whether these companies might deter from the law and order situation in Karachi, Sheikh said the government has assured them of full security.
Dumping of garbage in three landfill sites will start by the end of September this year and the land for these sites has been acquired at Dhabeji Jam Chakro and Gond Pass.
The MD said presently, the solid waste management department was not engaged in garbage collection, adding six garbage stations will be established in Karachi and the government has approved Rs 1.7 billion for the project and PC I in this regard had been prepared.
The companies will invest fully in the project, including machines and plants, and would charge the government per ton for the garbage collected.
Sheikh said initially the government has approved Rs three billion in terms of payment for garbage collection.
The MD said that a biogas plant will also be installed for power generation keeping in view the environmental pollution. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad had inaugurated the garbage collection process through latest machines worth billion of rupees way back during the tenure of city nazim Mustafa Kamal.
But, now according to records these machines have turned into scrap due to their non-usage for a long time.
Currently, at least 50 percent of the garbage is collected from the city daily and half of it is either burnt by sweepers or amass on streets as the municipal authorities complain of having limited funds.