LAHORE: All 274 union councils of the Lahore city district are set to be shifted to the door-to-door waste collection model in next two months, as the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has devised a plan under a phased manner in this regard.

So far, 78 of the total 274 UCs have been shifted to the new model, according to a senior official of the company.

“So far, the door-to-door waste collection system has been launched in 78 UCs. The remaining 196 will also be shifted within the next two months, provided that rickshaws equipped with bins and other necessary materials are manufactured and supplied on time,” LWMC Manager (Communication) Umar Chaudhry told Dawn on Tuesday.

The new system aims to replace the traditional method where residents either disposed of waste in open spaces or relied on private waste-collecting rickshaws. Initially, the service is being provided free of cost.

Mr Chaudhry said that each UC requires 10 rickshaws for effective waste collection. “So far, we have deployed 780 rickshaws across 78 UCs. Orders have already been placed with local manufacturers, who are working to meet the deadline,” he added.

“As soon as we receive the rickshaws, we integrate new UCs into the system,” he said.

Areas where the service has already been launched include Shahdara Town, Aziz Colony, Sham Nagar, Mohni Road, Data Darbar, Fort Road, the Walled City, Shalimar Town, Samanabad, Gulshan Ravi, Tajpura Scheme, Hanjarwal, Shahpur, Thokar Niaz Baig, Raiwind, Habibullah Road, Garhi Shahu, Kahna, Gajjumata, Nishtar Town, Johar Town, Model Town, Gulberg, Township, and others.

Over the next week, the system will become operational in six additional UCs, where the deployment of rickshaws is currently underway.

Meanwhile, LWMC Managing Director Babar Sahib Din inspected cleanliness arrangements in several areas, including Ferozepur Road, Kamahan Ashiana Road, and Nishtar Town.

“The cleaning operation teams must conduct scraping along roadsides and service lanes,” Mr Din directed during the visit.

He interacted with residents and shopkeepers to gather feedback on LWMC’s cleaning services and reviewed container clearance at Kacha Jail Road, Pico Road, Madar-e-Millat Road, and Maulana Shaukat Ali Road. He also checked worker attendance and manual sweeping operations at Township Market, Faisal Town, and Model Town Link Road.

Cleaning operations were further assessed at Shama, Ichhra, and Shadman’s Model Cart Bazaar. Mr Din urged residents to cooperate with LWMC’s collection teams and hand over waste to workers. Citizens can register cleaning-related complaints by calling the LWMC helpline at 1139 or via social media.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2025