New garbage collection system shortly

Disna MUDALIGE

A propaganda campaign to encourage public to separate household garbage as biodegradable waste, glass, and polythene and plastic will be initiated this year from grassroot level, said Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

He observed that this mechanism should be populated among public gradually.

He said that the Environment Ministry with the coordination of local government institutions will implement a new garbage collection system shortly, in which the days of the week will be marked to collect biodegradable waste, glass and polythene and plastic separately.

The minister said that a series of conferences will be organized this year at district secretariat divisional level for government officials and community leaders to carry out this message to their villages.

He said that the participants will be educated on solid waste management in these conferences.

He said that all financial facilities and equipment will be supplied by the central government to local government institutions to collect garbage separately.

He requested the support of all local government bodies to carry out this system.

The minister observed that people should also take steps to recycle and compost domestic garbage without expecting local government authorities to carry the garbage generated in the house.

He noted that about 30 percent of the waste in each household can be reduced in this manner.

The minister was addressing a press conference at the ministry premises on Thursday.