SWMD signs deal to recycle waste into fertiliser

By Shahnawaz Khan

LAHORE: The city government’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) has signed an agreement with a private firm which makes fertilisers from recycled waste material.

The SWMD will supply waste to the company in return for 10 percent of profits from fertiliser sales. The deal will last 25 years, and will be brought into effect six months from now at the SMWD’s dumping site in Bagrian, SWMD officials told Daily Times.

According to the officials, the department uses 300 vehicles to gather 3,960 metric tonnes of waste from all over Lahore (approximately 1,770 sq km) daily. The vehicles work in double shifts. The waste is dumped at three stations: Bagrian, Sagiyan Bridge and Mehmood Booti.

Officials said that initially SWMD would provide 1,000 metric tonnes of waste each day to the firm. “The waste will be recycled into 200 to 250 tonnes of fertiliser,” they said. The company has also agreed to plant 50,000 trees at Bagrian.

The officials said that the department had another proposal from a second company to recycle city waste. “The company has said that it will collect waste directly and will not pay the department. After 25 years, the company will hand over the recycling plant to the SWMD,” they said. “The proposal can save the department a lot of money: the 11,490 litres of monthly fuel consumption, vehicle maintenance and staff salaries.”

“The SWMD is also considering establishing a compost plant near the Sundar Industrial Estate.

Home | National