Solid waste management has become a critical aspect of population growth, attracting the attention of governments worldwide. While many countries have begun to capitalise on their solid waste, others continue to face significant challenges in its management. This unmanaged solid waste mostly ends up in empty plots, drains, ponds, rivers, agricultural lands, or by the roadsides. It generally comprises plastic and rubber, metal, paper and cardboard, textile waste, glass, food waste, animal waste, leaves, grass, bones, hospital waste, wood and stones.
In densely populated metropolitan centres, the efficient management of solid waste faces challenges due to rapid urbanisation, ineffective disposal techniques, and weak enforcement of protocols which consequently result in environmental and health hazards. At present, it is estimated that some 54,888 tons per day of solid waste is generated in Pakistan, but not even a single city in Pakistan has proper solid waste management systems in place which cover the entire waste cycle, from the point of solid waste collection to its proper disposal. Even the city of Islamabad, the federal capital of Pakistan, lacks effective planning in this regard. Coupled with a rise in urbanisation, traffic congestion, sound housing, deleterious solid waste, and detrimental air quality. In the peri-Islamabad region, waste collection and management practices are undeniably non-existent.
Waste management by municipalities is quite different as they collect only 51-69% of the total waste generated; hazardous hospital and industrial wastes are treated as ordinary waste, open burning of non-degradable components, adding to the environmental degradation and health risks. In the twin cities of Pakistan, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, inadequate waste facilities, irregular collection, and poor segregation practices by housing society management have created conditions conducive to the spread of viral diseases, deteriorated air, and water quality, and exacerbated environmental pollution. Moreover, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has a liability to provide waste management services in the urban territories that fall under its jurisdiction. This includes the collection, segregation, and recycling of waste, and maintaining sanitary conditions to ensure a safe and healthy environment for residents to thrive. Despite this, the municipal agencies are only capable of managing 60-70% of this waste, while the rest is dumped and burnt in open spaces, causing serious air pollution and deteriorating air quality. Whereas, sectors and regions beyond CDA’s scope, experience far more severe consequences, with uncollected waste, let alone managed, leading to health hazards, environmental degradation, and unlivable conditions.
This piled-up waste acts as a breeding ground for pests, flies, and mosquitos which contribute to the spread of diseases like cholera, malaria, dengue, etc. The rotting and decomposing waste spew harmful pollutants and fumes which makes the surrounding air unbreathable, perhaps uninhabitable as well. This waste can clog drains causing water logging and contamination of any clean water sources nearby. Hence, posing substantial challenges for the locality and people to thrive.
My recent study on the health impacts of open waste dumping and burning, conducted in the peri-urban Sector of H-13 in Islamabad, highlights numerous health-related issues and challenges associated with negligible management of solid waste in the locality. The findings of the study revealed the presence of numerous waste dumping sites within and around residential areas in the locality under observation, where waste is routinely dumped and frequently burnt on empty plots. This waste primarily consists of domestic refuse, including plastic materials and disposable diapers.
The primary causes of poor waste management identified include inefficient waste collection systems, inadequate infrastructure, no communal bonding, inadequate local administration interventions, and a lack of awareness about the health impacts of dumping and burning waste
When burnt, this waste releases harmful smoke and pollutants into the air, leading to a range of health issues, predominantly respiratory problems such as persistent coughing, asthma, and allergic reactions, including skin and eye irritation. These effects are directly linked to the toxic emissions generated during the burning process. Additionally, the accumulation of waste and the unhygienic conditions in the locality exacerbate the spread of viral infections, such as dengue fever, which has been observed frequently in the community and has tragically resulted in the loss of lives. Furthermore, gastrointestinal issues, such as stomach infections, are prevalent, particularly among children, who are more vulnerable due to exposure to contaminated food or water in such an unhygienic environment.
A few residents, who consulted healthcare providers, have corroborated and attributed these health problems to pollution, poor environmental conditions, and the close proximity of unmanaged waste dumping sites. They have emphasised that the unregulated dumping and burning of waste, combined with viral outbreaks, are primary contributors to the deteriorating health of the local population. The accumulation of waste has exacerbated the problem of stray dogs in the area, as the waste attracts large numbers of dogs, increasing the risk of harm and dog attacks to residents.
As intimated through the findings, the majority of the residents dispose of their domestic and food waste through private waste collectors, hired at a cost of Rs200–Rs300 per month, while others resort to dumping and burning waste in nearby empty plots. The primary causes of poor waste management identified include inefficient waste collection systems, inadequate infrastructure, no communal bonding, inadequate local administration interventions, and a lack of awareness about the health impacts of dumping and burning waste. To address these challenges, community members have taken collective action by hiring private waste collectors, adopting local waste collection services, and closing off plots previously used for dumping. However, the residents believe resolving the issue requires government and local administration intervention.
The absence of an effective local waste collection and management system has left the community under study vulnerable to unpleasant conditions due to dumped and burnt waste. While short-term efforts by local administration may temporarily address issues associated with waste accumulation and disease spread, they do not offer a sustainable solution. There is no difference in the continued burning of waste in H-13 or the dumping of Islamabad’s waste in landfills, which contribute to deteriorating air quality, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss, rendering the environment increasingly unbreathable and uninhabitable.
Islamabad’s air quality is already in a critical state, and without decisive action, the issues currently affecting H-13 are likely to escalate and spread, becoming a shared challenge for residents across the city. To ensure a lasting solution, the Islamabad Metropolitan administration must focus on implementing comprehensive waste management practices and strategies such as recycling, composting, and chemical or biological treatments. Such measures will not only resolve waste management challenges but also have a positive impact on public health, ecological well-being, and overall quality of life.