Garbage and the city
Ever mounting mounds of garbage continue to appear in different parts of the city and the authorities do not seem to have a clue as to how the problem could be tackled.
The issue of garbage disposal is not confined to the Colombo city and its outskirts alone. Other areas of the country including Kandy, Akurana, Dambulla, Ella etc. all face the same problem.
Island-wide, improper collection and disposal systems of solid waste management is adversely affecting the general public. Residents especially those in urban areas face problems varying from a lack of hygiene to environment degradation.
The piles of garbage lying on the roadside in residential areas have become breeding grounds for flies and rodents which in turn spread infectious disease such as dengue, rat fever, as well as other water and air-borne diseases.
‘When the garbage is not collected in a timely manner, bags filled with garbage can be seen hanging on gates, posts and walls of buildings which remain for days’, Victor Fernando, a resident of Mattakkuliya said.
To make matters worse, despite the experience where the recent floods deposited huge amounts of garbage from the landfill at Meetotamulla into residences in the area; lorries are once again seen transporting garbage to be dumped at this landfill despite the protests of area residents.