PESHAWAR: During a Twitter space event held in honor of Zero Waste Day, experts on solid waste emphasized the need for technology to be used for waste segregation and the utilization of separated materials to promote zero-waste initiatives in Pakistan.
The talk, organized by the Institute of Urbanism (IoU) and the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) in collaboration with the U.S. embassy, revealed that lack of waste at source and low recycling rates are major waste management challenges in the country that negatively impact urban livability.
Experts believe an integrated solid waste management system is required in urban areas with an emphasis on maximizing resource use efficiency.
The experts expressed their views on the occasion, and speakers included Environmental Engineer Babar Abbas from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Sumaira Gull, CEO of Integrated Resource Recovery Center (IRRC), and Dr. Ejaz Ahmad, Senior Program Fellow at the Institute of Urbanism.
The experts believe that Pakistan’s waste sector was threatening the achievement of the global 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Besides, they also stressed the importance of introducing special vocational courses to build the capacity of youth on using waste as a resource and turning recycling into income-generating opportunities.
They appreciated the students who were conceiving innovative ideas to address solid waste management and segregation.
Relevant policy stakeholders who contributed to the discussion included Farzana Altaf Shah, Director-General of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Sardar Khan Zimri, Director-General of Water Management at the Capital Development Authority (CDA), and Mariyam Irfan, Managing Director of the SoLF.
The stakeholders agreed that both the government and citizens must work together to manage waste effectively.
