Several methods exist for capturing the gas from garbage dumps and converting it into line-grade gas (also termed as pipeline quality purified gas), offering avenues for clean energy. The Lahore Lakhodher garbage dump can generate significant electricity if gas recovery systems are installed. Otherwise, we would be polluting water, vegetable, ground water and air through harmful emissions.  In sector I-12 in Islamabad, hundreds of tons of solid waste are dumped, highlighting concerns about safe waste disposal practices. The question is whether solid waste is being disposed of responsibly and safely.
In Karachi at Bhens colony (Cattle Colony), there are heaps of dung. If it is collected and gasified, it can provide a huge amount of energy. But unfortunately, it goes to the ocean and destroys mangrove forests and pollutes marine life. Specialists in anaerobic digestion may be contacted for ways to overcome this problem. They can assist and provide multiple proposals for disposing of the waste.
In Pakistan, with the availability of sources, the situation can be improved within a few months. Emphasis should be on how we save our environment and how we can control climate change. The gasification unit can be installed in Pakistan. Pakistan has the know-how to manage its waste, and partnerships with NGOs and international organizations can result in bringing progressive solutions. Establishing safe disposal facilities for garbage and wastewater is essential.
OUR GARBAGE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY:
Forums, either in print or in media, can acquaint people with the dangers for our coming generations because of improper waste disposal. Discussions should be centered on identifying practical remedies for these problems. We should know what our responsibilities are in this connection. Many urban areas in Pakistan have dump sites where waste management practices can be improved to reduce health and environmental risks. There is a minimal organized recycling system, although in the informal sector, many people do recycling, yet they do not separate the items. Cardboard and other such things must be recovered, but what is being done most often is that all the things are buried in land, even though some items should otherwise be supplied to other industries.
Soil contamination poses a risk of long-term damage to the environment and can affect the safety of the food supply chain due to the presence of heavy metals in water, vegetables, food, and milk. In some areas, untreated water is used for irrigation, which increases these risks. Addressing groundwater pollution and air emissions is crucial to ensuring a safe food supply and a healthy environment. Appropriate solutions need to be implemented to mitigate these hazards.
It is repeatedly emphasized that underground water on all dump sites has a higher chance of being polluted with heavy metals. These are extremely dangerous for human health. When crops are irrigated with such water, they also get polluted. If this continues, then for our animals, there will be unhealthy fodder. Already, hundreds of deaths annually are linked to waterborne diseases caused by hepatitis. The more we procrastinate, the more financial, technical, and technological resources we will have to employ.
International agencies are monitoring Lahore air emissions, as there are great hazards of methane gas, which can pose a danger to human health and may cause respiratory diseases. Improper waste management may increase the risk of other health problems.
Around the world, waste-to-energy plants are being used to convert garbage into electricity. But in Pakistan, large-scale implementation can be costly and challenging. At an international scale, around 35 countries have successfully implemented this technology. Estimates suggest that processing one ton of garbage in such a plant can cost between $80 and $150. If engineered properly, this remains one of the safest and most economical methods for waste disposal. Any such facility should meet international standards, including US EPA and EU environmental specifications, to minimize harmful emissions. But initially, it may be cost-intensive for us. Large-scale waste-to-energy projects may require long timelines, often several years. Hence, we may not afford its cost at present.  To control the emissions level, we have to work systematically and use technology for safe disposal of waste. We should pay attention that it is carried out as per a proper and planned method.
We must ensure that when waste is decomposed, the gas that comes out, can be converted into energy. This would be green energy, and it would be much less polluting. This energy can be purified, and we may use it in our vehicles and use it for producing heat energy which may be used for operating boilers. There is a system of gas recovery and there must be strict safety protocols, like equipping waste collectors with the protective gear. Their safety must be ensured and there must be no hazardous material.
The garbage should be dumped at places that are far from population centres. Local transfer stations and material recovery facilities can be established to separate and recover the things that can be recycled. The garbage that is left afterwards is called residual waste, having less economic value, but it can be managed in landfills.  The solid waste from different areas after collection may be taken to the landfill through transfer trailers, even over a distance of 100 km.
By consolidating the load of 10 trucks onto a single trailer, pollution from transportation can be reduced by approximately 60 percent . Hence, we should know what is the concept of an engineered landfill, what the liner system is, and what is the method to control and treat the leakages which come from waste.
The citizen monitoring committees in the residential areas can include the people who love the environment and want to keep it clean and who know that a safe disposal site is environmentally friendly and it should be properly designed and managed. They must attend these meetings with a positive mindset. Gas emissions have adverse health impacts. Pollution of water and the related matters must come under regular discussions in these meetings. The members of such communities do not need formal expertise. They must engage with the landfill operators and inform them about acceptable safe practices.
We must remember that wherever there are dump sites, adopting safety measures would be equivalent to dealing with the big calamities. Likewise, controlling air emissions and water pollution is also necessary. And to counter these challenges, new safe facilities should be made. It is widely recognized that liquid and solid waste management in Pakistan poses a serious environmental risk. National environmental quality standards do exist in Pakistan, but our compliance remains inconsistent.
It is repeatedly emphasized that underground water on all dump sites has a higher chance of being polluted with heavy metals. These are extremely dangerous for human health. When crops are irrigated with such water, they also get polluted. If this continues, then for our animals, there will be unhealthy fodder. Already, hundreds of deaths annually are linked to waterborne diseases caused by hepatitis. The more we procrastinate, the more financial, technical, and technological resources we will have to employ.
