LAHORE, July 28: Waste disposal bins that have begun to appear in the city’s markets over the weekend have been cautiously welcomed by environmentalists, though the public has yet to fully embrace them, a survey by Dawn showed on Monday.
According to Muhammad Rafique Jatoi, Solid Waste Management (SWM) Department deputy director (planning), six new compactors have been employed to collect rubbish from the bins, which began appearing at Gulberg’s Main Market from Saturday.
“Rubbish will be collected every day and taken to landfill sites,” Mr Jatoi said.
“We’re also employing social mobilisers around the bins to encourage people to make use of them.”
Further installations are planned at The Mall and Liberty Market, and other as yet undecided “public areas” which may include bus stops and parks throughout the month.
On June 26, the SWM executive district officer (EDO) told Dawn that 1,000 new dustbins would be installed at key points by the next week. According to Mr Jatoi, the project’s funding was being drawn from the SWM department’s annual Rs1.4million budget.
Though the project has begun late according to the department’s own schedule, the development has been cautiously welcomed by environmental activists.
Rafay Alam, an environment lawyer, called the bins a “great initiative” but added that they could have been placed in more intelligent areas – closer to fruit sellers or car parking areas.
Prof Ijaz Anwar, information secretary of the Lahore Conservation Society, welcomed the fact that social mobilisers were being employed to educate the public about their environmental obligations.
He said the bins should contain holes for rain water seepage to prevent them from flooding during Monsoon rains, though at present the bins were watertight thanks to a thick plastic bag used as lining.
Both Mr Alam and Prof Anwar, however, said segregating rubbish and recycling plastics and glass would be preferable to having it compacted in compactor trucks.
Asif, a tip-based worker who spends 12 hours a day at the market, said: “Right now, they are being used mostly by shopkeepers, but most ordinary people are still throwing their litter on the road. It takes time to break old habits.”
Shoppers approached by Dawn welcomed the addition of bins, though much rubbish still lays strewn around the market.