Ready to pay extra tax for garbage

Many ‘desperate’ residents in the Colombo district and the immediate suburbs are prepared to pay an extra tax to remove their garbage on time and from their doorstep, a survey by The Sunday Times FT on the garbage crisis shows.

More than 65 percent agreed to the payment of an extra tax if this would solve their garbage problem. The survey covered a cross section of office workers, students, academics, professionals, businessmen, housewives, etc. It reflected how desperate and angry residents are with their local council over garbage collection.

“I am glad someone is taking this issue up,” said an office worker. “Finally the garbage issue is hitting the media,” said a medical doctor from Dehiwela, although the problem has surfaced on many occasions in the media. Environmentalists said while the media has taken up this issue in the past, the lack of effective solutions has resulted in a community frustrated by the government and media inability to trigger change.

More than 90 percent of the respondents said they were unhappy with garbage collection and disposal; 95 percent said they were prepared to help the authorities and share responsibility while 65 percent said they were willing to pay an extra tax.
What was most revealing in the survey was the number of respondents who offered suggestions on long term solutions while others said residents should also be made aware of sorting of garbage and on recycling garbage – and the desperation in which suggestions were made.

One resident proposed projects in garbage sorting amongst households and subsequent collection for recycling. He said public awareness should be done through households, offices and schools on recycling and incentives given for proper sorting and collection.

The brand manager of a company involved in organic food marketing recommended the floating of a company to manufacture organic fertilizer with a sizable stake being offered to the public through an IPO (Initial Share Offering). “Sri Lanka being an agricultural country the use of organic fertilizer will be immense. It could be an export commodity as well since many countries now seek consumable products that use organic fertilizer,” he said. An executive commented on the good work done by the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha in setting up an eco recycle garbage collection booth. “However if at the point of collection of garbage from residences recycled garbage can be collected separately, this system would be more effective,” he added.
The most effective recommendation came from a Colombo academic who suggested a common ‘sanitary land-fill’. “No council in the Colombo district could effectively solve the garbage issue due to a shortage of land. The Western Provincial Council should have a common "sanitary land-fill" scientifically ‘engineered’ for the whole of the district. Any council could be charged a levy for using it to dispose their garbage. This then reduces the responsibility of the councils to just collection and transport, while the garbage is also properly treated,” he said.

An advertising executive was frustrated by the massive garbage mountain at the Bloemendhel road site near Thotalanga saying the country, which is trying to attract tourists while projecting Sri Lanka’s beauty, should be ashamed. “Must we show the world this?” she asked.

Here are additional comments from the survey:

On state responsibility:

* Privatisation is the best way out of this bureaucracy and lethargy.

* The government must be tough with local authorities who receive a lot of funds for garbage disposal.

* My concern is what happens to the collected garbage. Are we disposing it correctly?

On residents sharing responsibility:
* Certainly yes and this is common in developed countries.

* Every neighborhood should be organized to be responsible for proper garbage disposal, the way it is done in the US and most developed countries where the authorities work with civil society.

* The CMC had good initiatives like the Orange Plastic Bin project where communities did cooperate and there was relatively good compliance. When Burns Lanka undertook garbage collection, the situation improved but the CMC didn’t push these initiatives and extended the contract without proper compliance. Composing bins were given in some areas but there is no incentive to promote this use.

On payment of an extra ‘garbage collection’ tax:

* We are already paying councils for this service.

* It would result in another scam.

* No. Council workers sign up in the morning and then go away to do other jobs.

* What is the guarantee that this extra tax would be used to provide a better service?

* Yes if there is a long term, efficient plan in place.

* I have little faith that paying anything more will improve the service.

* What good would additional taxes do going by past experience? Even with the extra tax we would still be waiting for the trucks to come. Even the (Colombo) mayor is scared of the minor staff.

* That would be double taxation.

* Why pay another tax when we have to take care of a bloated cabinet, their security, foreign travel for ministers and their staff, etc?

* Yes but we need specific details.

* I don’t mind paying extra since we already make an unofficial Rs. 100 per month to the garbage collector.

* Yes, as long as there is transparency on how the extra funds are being utilized in the reduction of the garbage problem