Waste separation needs top priority – ILO official

Solid waste can produce about 1,000kgs of compost daily- UC chairman:

Disna MUDALIGE

Value addition to solid waste collected from local government authorities could be promoted as a substantial income source, which would in turn contribute for the environmental friendly disposal of solid waste, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Green Job Project National Project Coordinator Shyama Salgado said.

She said waste separation needed to be given high priority to allow value addition to the solid waste such as making compost and selling other material among waste.

Salgado made this observation while accompanying the media to the Seethawakapura Urban Council in Avissawella, where the ILO under the Green Job Project has supported to adopt the green practice, gaining highly successful results.

She said under the ILO project, three project sites, namely Karadiyana dump site, Pohorawatte site which is about to launch its compost project and Seethawakapura site have been selected for improvements.

The lower level waste sector workers on these sites have also been provided with training and uniform to improve their occupational safety, health and hygiene, Salgado said.

She said there is a tremendous attitude and behavioral change among workers after the training.

She noted that this training has been extended to all lower level waste sector workers including drivers numbering about 4,000 in all 48 local government authorities in the Western Province.

Salgado said the training programmes will be completed by June end.

She said the support of all relevant stakeholders including the Western Province Waste Management Authority and local government institutions have been taken in this task.

Seethawakapura Urban Council chairman R M S Premalal Pinto said about 1,000kgs of compost can be produced daily using the collected solid waste.

He said about 200kgs to 300kgs of compost is sold daily. Pinto said the UC expects to begin large scale selling of compost in the near future for plantation companies.

He said in addition to producing compost, the Seethawakapura Urban Council is engaged in selling waste food to poultry farms and crushed plastics to companies.

It has also provided an additional allowance for its lower level workers in the waste sector from these substantial incomes.