THE Punjab Government has made it mandatory for all government and private educational institutions in the province to install colour-coded bins for waste segregation under its new ‘Smart Waste Management’ initiative.
According to an order issued by the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the move aims at promoting recycling, safe disposal and landfill reduction in line with Pakistan’s environmental commitments and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under the plan, every school must install clearly labelled bins in prominent locations to separate waste into five categories: paper (yellow), glass (green), organic/biodegradable waste (grey), metal (red) and plastic (orange). The bins are to be maintained hygienically and emptied regularly.
This is yet another laudable initiative of the provincial government to turn Punjab neat and clean in the real sense of the word. The Suthra Punjab scheme has already changed the look of not only cities but also towns and populated rural areas and measures to improve garbage collection and disposal in a scientific manner will hopefully help promote a healthy environment. Colour-coded bins for segregation of waste are used globally as well as by elite private housing societies in Pakistan but it is, perhaps, for the first time that a province-wide (although limited to educational institutions) initiative has been introduced in the country. Successful implementation of the move will help promote easy and environment friendly recycling, reduce contamination (caused by mixed waste), sustainable habits and efficient collection. However, full benefits of the scheme will accrue only if the waste management authorities adopt the same practice and the waste is used for energy production. Water and sanitation charges in Punjab have multiplied in recent weeks and there should now be no excuse of shortage of financial resources for the purpose.
