‘DUMP MUST BE IN SHAPE OF A HILL’
M’mulla: Japanese experts propose in report
The Japanese experts in their report on the collapse of the Meethotamulla garbage dump recommended that the garbage mountain be realigned into stable slopes to prevent another collapse.
In the report handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena, they also recommended that the bottom of the dump be consolidated by covering it with polythene.
As a long-term solution, the experts recommended the recycling of garbage dumped at Meethotamulla to manufacture carbonic fertilizer and for power generation.
Mr. Mitsuka Numahata, who headed the team of experts, said Japan gained vast experience in the management of garbage disposal after public protests in 1960. He said Japan was able to reduce the quantity of waste to a sixth of what prevailed through various means adopted since then.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the government had decided to stop dumping garbage at Meetotumulla and look for alternative sites for garbage disposal. He said this when he met the Japanese disaster relief team. “We have decided to look for suitable sites to dump garbage, one at Aruwakalu in the Puttalam District and the other at Ja-ela,” he said adding that the garbage at Meetotumulla would be moved to new sites.
He said the government was hoping to introduce several laws on the recycling of garbage.
“We also have to think of the roles which the central government and the local government bodies should play when it comes to solid waste management,” the Prime Minister said and suggested that the project proposals submitted by several institutions including the World Bank would be looked into.
The Japanese experts told the Prime Minister that they would submit a more detailed report on the Meetotumulla dump prior to leaving Sri Lanka.
They have recommended waste segregation, introduction of intermediate treatment such as a waste incinerator, gas control and waste water drainage control at the garbage dumping sites and short-term measures such as shaping the garbage mound into stable slopes and introducing a warning system based on rainfall.