Colombo garbage to the village - Letter

The recent article by Lakwimashi Perera on ‘Garbage Disposal’ in The Sunday Times FT was really an eye opener.

I am an outstation resident and I have witnessed what the residents in Colombo district have to go through when it comes to garbage disposal. I myself have the experience of taking my sister’s weekly collection of garbage from her flat, back to the village as there is no proper system of garbage disposal in the area where she resides. As the survey results have very clearly indicated, most of the residents show a positive attitude towards a proper system of garbage disposal. We should not consider that it is the sole responsibility of the local authority to dispose garbage free of charge. As one resident had suggested, public awareness should be started from households, schools and offices, etc.

Therefore let us initiate the 3–R approach from our own household itself. As it is easier to introduce a new concept to children than to adults, we adults must make sure to educate our children on sorting our garbage at home before putting it away. Thus the recycling process becomes much easier and cheaper than any other way. Thank you The Sunday Times, for launching a survey on this burning issue and getting many valuable ideas on the topic.

Chammi Hapuarachchi, Madampe