Seven local council areas in Colombo dumped in garbage crisis

Some of the most populated areas in the Western province were heading for a garbage crisis after a fresh directive that they would not be able to dispose mixed waste at the Kardiyana garbage dump site from tomorrow.

The western province solid waste management authority has sent out written instructions of the directive to seven local councils including the Dehiwala-Mt Lavinia, Sri Jayawardenepura-Kotte and the Moratuwa Municipal Councils.

The others are Boralesgamuwa and Maharagama Urban Councils and the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabhawa.

The Director of the Authority,  Nalin Mannapperuma told TimesOnline that the decision was taken as the garbage dump had exceeded its capacity and there was a risk of the dump collapsing.

He said however, disposal of degradable waste could continue.

Mr Mannapperuma pointed out that one of the reasons for the dump to exceed its capacity  was that  a proposal to use the garbage for power production had not been implemented.

Pix and text by Rekha Tharangni Fonseka