Kyrgyzstan to improve solid waste management in Bishkek
BISHKEK (TCA) — It is time to use waste as a commodity in Kyrgyzstan, believes Mayor of Bishkek Kubanychbek Kulmatov. Analysis conducted by the Bishkek Mayor's office has showed that 65 percent of the garbage produced in the city has been produced by companies operating in Bishkek.
Kulmatov plans to attract private companies for the collection and disposal of waste, and create suitable conditions for them.
The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan is concerned with the sanitary condition of the city and offered to increase the penalties for unauthorized waste placement. Necessary amendments should be made to the Administrative Responsibility Code. The bill is aimed at increasing citizens' responsibility for placing and burning of waste in unauthorized places.
MPs say that penalties for the inappropriate placement of waste are widely practiced in many countries. The measure would make citizens more accurate and also help replenish the city budget. Such fines will partially cover the cost of garbage collection.
Parliamentarians cited as an example the experience of developed countries. In Seoul, unlawful waste disposal incurs a fine of 100,000 won (about $88). Failing to separate food waste from general waste increases the fine, which is also increased for repeated violation.
Kyrgyz MPs proposed a 20-fold increase of the fine. However, some experts are doubtful that this law will work, because it does not determine who and how will track the unauthorized waste disposal. MPs advised local authorities to increase awareness of the population.
The Tazalyk municipal waste collection company supports the parliamentary initiative to increase the penalties. Bishkek is home to 1.3 million people and every resident produces about 300 pounds of garbage per year. The company cannot cope with such a huge amount of waste because it has only 118 garbage trucks, most of which are already worn out. To operate effectively, the company needs at least 100 more trucks.
If the problem is not solved, Bishkek would drown in the garbage. The city dump is no longer suitable for garbage collection. The Government intends to open a new landfill in the Chui province, and the site for it has already been chosen. The new landfill will operate until 2026, and then it will be expanded. The city administration intends to fully reclaim the old landfill.
Some experts believe that it would be better to build a recycling plant and apply new waste recycling technologies. Previously, the Bishkek municipality announced plans to build a recycling plant but the situation has not moved forward.
The bad sanitary and epidemiological situation at the Bishkek landfill has been discussed for many years. The municipal landfill, located near the Northern bypass road, has been operating since 1974. Its area is 85 hectares, and the height of waste has reached 10 meters.
According to the Sanitary and Epidemiological Department, the situation is exacerbated by violations such as waste incineration and improper waste disposal. Besides, the landfill area is not fenced, and disinfection measures are not carried out. The landfill is also dangerous as a hotbed of possible explosions and fires because of methane gas accumulated in the rotting garbage.
Officials and deputies hope for the EBRD project on improvement of solid waste management in Bishkek. A grant agreement for 3 million euros and a loan of 11 million euros was signed last year.
The project aims to provide a modern process of solid waste management in Bishkek and establish a complete management cycle including collection, transportation, sorting and recycling of waste in order to stop the harmful effects on the environment. To sort the garbage, new machinery and equipment, bins, and GPS-navigators will be purchased.
The system of separate waste collection in schools is also planned. Containers for collecting plastic and paper will be installed there. Besides, waste collection routes will be optimized and online payments introduced.
Written by Maria Levina
www.timesca.com