Since, as a nation, we waste a lot of time by indulging in unproductive activities that leads to less than optimal utilization of our potential, it is no surprise that we also waste our waste. Funny as it may sound but its true.
Solid waste management is not a new idea as it is widely practised in more developed parts of the world than normally perceived. A study compiled by Pakistans Ministry of Environment reveals that 83 percent of the 1.2 billion tons of waste produced annually by the entire world is managed to be reprocessed - a large portion of which is used to make daily use items such as paper and plastic.
But more importantly, the managed waste is also used to produce ample amount of energy worldwide equaling 600,000 barrels per day of oil. Although, this is far less than average global oil production of 18.7 million barrels, it may come as a surprise to few that waste-to-energy incineration plants are producing more power than all worlds wind turbines and solar panels projects produce together, according to the study titled "Data Collection for Preparation of National Study on Privatization of Solid Waste Management in Eight Selected Cities of Pakistan".
Pakistanis, however, have failed to tap this potential so far. The countrys urban areas produce around 20 million tons of waste annually, but our collectors fail to pick up a good 30-50 percent of the waste. If the waste currently being produced is fully utilized, the country can address power shortage to a certain extent. Taking the global standards of energy conversions as the benchmark, 20 million tons can produce as much as 1520 megawatts per hour of electricity - nearly half of countrys average electricity shortfall.
And considering that Pakistani population is expected to grow at an average rate of over 2 percent per annum, the country will be producing around 26 million tons of waste five years from now - generating a huge recycling potential to fuel the economy if the waste isn left unutilized.
Eyeing this opportunity, the Punjab government has recently initiated a solid waste management project in Lahore and Faisalabad in collaboration with France. Hopefully, other provinces would follow suit. Why not create environment friendly energy - the next global industry - instead of damaging it by leaving heaps of waste around our neighborhood.
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