LAHORE: Masses can generate income and save environment by adopting intelligent techniques for solid waste management at their homes and workplaces.
This was observed by environment expert and Director Housing and Environmental Social Enterprise Pakistan Amjad Aslam while addressing the ‘Intelligent Environmental Protection and Energy Forum’. The event was organised by the World Internet of Things Convention (WIOTC) at Beijing China, through video link from Lahore on Sunday.
He said that segregating inorganic and organic materials from solid waste can be very simple way to understand this concept.
He said that the materials worth billions of rupees are dumped through mismanagement of solid waste in Pakistan every year. This also creates a number of environment related problems, he added.
“Very critical issue faced by Pakistan is solid waste management; the solid waste management is not only responsibility of the governmental organisations and civil infrastructure, but also a duty of the people to effectively dispose it of,” he said.
Amjad Aslam said that if people of a city or a residential area segregate organic and inorganic materials at home, inorganic materials can be easily sold or recycled for different other purposes.
The organic materials can be very quickly and efficiently converted into fertilizers.
The fertilizers would not only be a source of income but alsoincrease fertility of the soil. He said that through the use of organic fertilizers, the agricultural output could also be increased.
He said that increase in population and high rate of urbanization is putting a lot of pressure on urban services like solid waste management.
According to an estimates, 3.5 to 5.5 % urban growth per annum is recorded in Pakistan.
He said that excessive use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers has also resulted in multiple environmental problems for such a remarkable crop producing land.
