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Containing the garbage problem

28 Jul 2019

The world we live in today is a ticking time bomb due to the general disregard for environmental concerns. Not only is this an issue of enormous proportions here in Sri Lanka but also the rest of the world. The most powerful leader on Earth, Donald Trump, has consistently proclaimed that there is no such thing as global warming and that it is a creation of the environmental lobby. Mercifully, not many other leaders share his level of intellect on the subject and are well aware of the implications of environmental destruction. Today, Europe is experiencing a killer heat wave while six months ago, much of the US was experiencing a killer cold wave. In both of the two phenomena which occurred just six months apart, temperatures broke all time records. Given these realities, it is imperative that every possible measure is taken at the governmental level to halt or minimise environmental harm in all forms. In Sri Lanka, we have our own share of environmental issues, much of which is our own creation. Top of the list is garbage disposal. While consumption continues to increase in accordance with income levels, a direct consequence is higher waste generation. With no proper plan for systematic garbage disposal, our main method until very recently was to pile it up in a dump. As a result, people have paid with their lives by being buried under collapsing mountains of garbage. Although solutions were promised literally over their dead bodies, progress has been slow. Not just people, but animals both on land and water have also paid the price. It is a common sight to see wild elephants and other animals feeding on plastic bags dumped in places like Dambulla and even in protected sanctuaries like Muthurajawela. Elephants choking on plastic bags are not the best advertisements for tourism, just as much as the shoals of dead fish floating on inland waterways and lakes. Take for instance the Beira Lake in the heart of Colombo. The water is so toxic that no marine life could survive in it due to the waste released into it by the surrounding establishments. We now have the additional problem of imported garbage. The fact that this imported garbage is also highly hazardous certainly compounds the problem. According to reports, the 129 containers – now at the centre of a full-blown controversy involving big corporate names – include human remains, dangerous clinical waste, and various other toxic materials. How is this allowed to happen? The contents of the containers pose a serious public health hazard and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has issued strict storage guidelines pending re-export in order to prevent the contamination of its immediate environment. The discovery of this massive consignment of what could only be described as garbage imported through legitimate channels, poses many a question and will likely result in the opening of a stinking can of worms. No shipment of this scale could be brought in without the complicity of corrupt officials. What is truly startling is that this “operation garbage” has been going on for a considerable period of time without raising any alarms. It is of little wonder that Sri Lanka has become a transhipment hub not only for western waste but more alarmingly for the international drug trade as we obviously do not seem to be aware of what is being imported into the country. The current system of random checks seems to be completely outdated and prone to abuse. Therefore, the entire process is in need of a complete rethink, factoring in the need to screen every container, given the current global security compulsions. It is equally interesting to find out how these shipments made it out of British ports though legal channels. According to media reports, Britain has now launched its own investigation into this. The Easter Sunday terror attacks were a stark reminder of the perils of letting down our guard in the post-war scenario. Similarly, the container crisis has now shown us the perils of lax surveillance at the ports and free ports. It is only a matter of time before terror networks exploit these weak links. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that immediate measures are taken to strengthen customs surveillance using high-tech detection equipment and the monitoring of free port operations. The current container crisis seems just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger operation where Sri Lanka has become the preferred dumping ground for western waste. Data revealed by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Friday seemed to confirm this fact, wherein 2.96 million kilograms of garbage had been imported but only 283,000 kg had been re-exported via the free port facility. What this means is that over 90% of the imported garbage is still here. Therefore, the million dollar question is – what happened to it? It is imperative that a comprehensive investigation is launched into the garbage import racket and the culprits are identified and punished as quickly as possible, whoever they may be. This incident also highlights the unpreparedness of our law enforcement to deal with issues that are somewhat beyond their scope. Therefore, specialised training, focusing on modern day requirements, is a necessity. Meanwhile, the silence of the Minister of Environment on the raging garbage debate has been deafening to say the least. Before he goes to the people by year end, the garbage crisis has created an opportunity for him to redeem his legacy by proposing the revision of environmental laws to reflect modern requirements and setting up the required systems to implement the law. Garbage is fast becoming an asset in the modern world. For instance, in Singapore, garbage is used to produce electricity and the remaining ash is used to create artificial islands that are flourishing with greenery. If Sri Lanka is to walk the talk on transforming itself in to a fast developing country, then its priority should shift from building useless white elephants to building what is absolutely essential for the country’s well-being; a proper garbage disposal system coupled with the prevention of garbage importation would be a good place to start.

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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!


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