Solid waste, money spinner now:

Invest in waste management

Authority will support joint ventures:

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Waste Management Authority (WMA) wants the private sector to invest in mass scale waste related business ventures in the Western Province under Public Private Partnership programs (PPPs).

WMA. Western Province Director Priyantha Samarakkody told Daily News Business that any facility which has a capacity of composting more than 25 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste per day is defined as a mass scale composting facility in the Western Province.

The WMA prefers to promote mass scale composting plants as a common facility. The operation of such facilities will be undertaken by the WMA or by the private sector or through PPP.

Samarakkody said the Authority expects the private sector to invest around Rs 50 to 70 million in these projects. The Authority will provide support to these ventures.

He said the Government will invest on the risk factors such as new technology. Guidelines will be given by the Authority and the private sector will have the advantage of making good profits through these projects.

The private sector can get involved in the transport of garbage and compost can be produced at the plants.

In addition WMA is in the process of identifying suitable land in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts to establish mass scale perishable waste processing facilities.

It is projected to compost around 600-800 Metric tonnes of perishable garbage per day by 2014.

One mass scale composting facility at the Kalutara Urban Council is in progress presently with financial support of Pilisaru National Solid Waste Management Program. It was started in February this year. Operations of the facility will begin before the end of this year. Another mass scale composting facility is being constructed at the Pothuwilkumbure dump site at Kolonnawa.

WMA Deputy Director Nalin Mannapperuma referring to approaches for perishable waste management said according to a study the average percentage of perishable waste of the waste stream is around 50 to 70 percent.

He said organic perishable-waste generated in households, markets and slaughterhouses dominate the major portion of municipal solid waste.

The percentage of short-term biodegradable content such as King Coconut shells, tree cuttings and the percentage of polythene and plastics are comparatively higher in the Municipal Council waste stream.