Making profit from recycling waste materialPilot project for solid waste management in Ampara under way

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

Though recycling is a novel trend for countries like ours most of the developed countries make the maximum use of recycling waste material while earning a considerable amount of revenue. Moreover recycling is an ideal way for protecting the environment.

However under the guidance of the Government, Ampara Urban Council has taken a fruitful step to construct a Solid Waste Management Plant (SWMP) in Ampara. The SWMP in Ampara will be a pilot project for solid waste management setting an example to the whole country since such a ambitious solid waste management plant has so far not been established in the country.

The solid waste management plant which consists of two sections as Compost project and Recycling project has been constructed in a seventeen acre land at Buddangala Road within the town limits. The SWMP is being constructed and funded by the United Nations. More than Rs. 80 million has been allocated for the ongoing construction.

So far no waste management program is available in Ampara other than dumping garbage on bare lands creating serious health, social and environmental problems.

"Around eight to ten metric tonnes of garbage are collected from the town limit daily but we are not able to put this garbage to profitable use as there wasn't a garbage recycling plant. The construction of the new SWMP has reached near completion and only five percent is left to be completed. The operation of the new SWMP will commence within a few months.

"The SWMP will produce a considerable quantity of compost which can be utilized for cultivation," Ampara Urban Council Chairman Sarath Deshapriya told the Daily News.

As there is a growing demand for organic fertilizer throughout the world, it has been estimated that there will be a significant demand for compost of SWMP as cultivations are abundant in Ampara and neighbouring districts.

Considering this situation the Urban Council has already planned to start an organic farm in Ampara since Ampara area is becoming as a booming tourist location for both local and foreign tourists.

The excess organic fertilizer is planned to be used for the cultivation in the organic farm.

Organic vegetables, compost and plants will be available for sale at the sales outlet established in future.

"Collected garbage will firstly be sorted manually and deposited in separate tanks. The degradable waste materials such as household garbage can be recycled easily. The recycling plant uses the most modern technology for solid waste management. This will be the biggest ever compost plant in the country. However non degradable waste materials such as glass, plastics, porcelain, pieces of pottery items cannot be recycled easily. Therefore these particles are used for earth filling," the Public Health Inspector of Ampara Urban Council B. W. Jagath said.