THIS is apropos Khunsha Khalid’s letter ‘Waste-to-energy’ (March 28) and mixed comments thereon by some readers.

Waste-to-energy is a good and practicable idea. However, in our country, excepting a few, none are worried about the colossal waste of energy through inefficiencies. As compared to international standards, energy efficiencies are much lower in our power generation, transmission and distribution.

A number of electric motors or other machines in most industries are using more energy than required. Barring a few exceptions, there appears little or no effort to conserve energy by improving manufacturing processes or installing energy-saving devices and by installing more energy-efficient machines.

Waste-to-energy projects these days depend on the wishes of the municipal corporations which are responsible for collection and safe disposal of municipal waste. Karachi and Lahore are understood to be working on generation of electricity from municipal/animal waste. Maybe such projects are not taken up as there have been no elections of local bodies for the past few years.

Perhaps private-sector initiatives are needed to show how energy can be derived from waste in our local conditions. The local people in hilly areas have installed small hydro plants to generate electricity for self-use.

The city authorities can help control filth, waste and garbage for local residents provided suitable arrangements are made with private parties for lifting of municipal waste and burning the same at designated plant locations for producing heat and electricity.

Such small plants may be encouraged more on social and health considerations than monetary or profit considerations.

M. Bashir Chaudhry

Karachi