Waste Management System

Clearing the clogged nullahs

October 13, 2020

Salient features of the proposed Waste Management System

November 1, 2020

The following paragraphs propose a Waste Management System (WMS) that could be easily adopted and implemented by the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) , and other similar organisations. It has been prepared by volunteer citizens as a token of goodwill and support to CBC. We look forward to holding in an in-depth discussion session with you, after you have gone through this proposal.

CANTONMENT BOARD CLIFTON

WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

A. Cantonment Board Clifton’s Waste Management System:

The proposed Waste Management System (WMS) of the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) is defined in the following paragraphs. Once approved, this document will be publicly accessible on CBC’s website ( http://www.cbc.gov.pk/en ) and a printed and revised copy shall be given to all households every year. The salient features of this system shall be prominently displayed on banners all across CBC for information and actions by all residents.

B. The CBC WMS Policy envisages :

Developing an integrated waste management system that includes collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of all waste.
Providing efficient and effective door to door waste collection services to all residential, commercial and recreational premises within CBC.
Ensuring that all areas, roads, empty plots and public spaces are kept clean and hygienic.
Ensuring environmentally effective and legally correct disposal of all garbage waste collected by CBC.
Ensuring that all manholes are covered and all gutters and sewage lines are regularly cleaned as a part of preventive maintenance.
Encouraging and ensuring segregation and profitable use of recyclable materials. Also ensuring that organic waste is segregated and used for composting or energy generation purposes.
Ensuring that no garbage is dumped by any individual at any open plot or empty space of CBC.
Creating a ban on animal sacrifice in homes, open spaces, public spaces and roads and providing sufficient and hygienic sacrificial places where citizens could park and sacrifice their animals.
Ensuring that a 24/7 CBC Helpline is created that can respond to special needs of residents.
Ensuring health and safety of all employees (may they belong to CBC or its contractors), residents and visitors, at all locations and for all activities – routine or special.
Developing plans to discourage and eliminate the use of plastic bags in all CBC controlled areas.
Creating measurable performance targets and continually reviewing and improving the performance of CBC’s WMS.

C. Waste Collection and disposal

The CBC waste collection system will be developed in four stages.
Preparatory or pre-launch stage: Two months. This period is meant for all preparatory tasks that ought to be in place before commencement of the WMS activities. These could be tasks such as, creating awareness, preparation of banners, updating of websites, contract making, selection and preparation of garbage transfer stations, procurement of safety equipment, modification of waste collection trucks to separately keep 3 categories of waste etc.
Trial run stage: Two months. Trial period to monitor inadequacies of plan, make corrections and fine-tune the system.
On-going implementation of WMS.
Continual performance improvement of WMS, including measures for improved recycling, composting and waste-to-energy conversion.

Waste Collection Zones: For the purpose of waste collection, the entire area under CBC will be divided into 6 zones, called Zone A, B, C, D, E and F. The map of these six Zones is given in Appendix A , and placed on CBC website.
For each of the six zones, CBC may decide to use its own employed janitorial staff or contract the function to a 3^rd Under no circumstances, the same contractor will be given the janitorial services contract for more than two zones.

The CBC Waste collection truck will provide house to house service for collection of waste in each zone. Each Zone / street / house will receive this service three times every week. Waste collection days for each Zone will be as follows:

Zone A … Monday , Wednesday, Friday

Zone B … Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

Zone C … Monday , Wednesday, Friday

Zone D … Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

Zone E … Monday , Wednesday, Friday

Zone F … Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

The above schedule for waste collection is given in Appendix B , and placed on CBC website.

Trucks will blow the siren on arrival / entering each street, at which residents are required to bring their trash bin/s outside the gate. The truck staff will also ring the house bell to ensure trash collection in case the bin is not already taken out.

D. Segregation of waste into 3 categories

CBC will strictly follow the policy of segregating , handling, storing and disposing all waste into 3 categories. These are as follows:

Category 1: Recyclable items: These are papers, cardboard, flattened cardboard boxes, , newspapers, magazines, copies, tins, aluminum and steel cans, metal parts, plastic bottles , plastic containers, plastic tubs and jugs. See Appendix C for pictures of Recyclable wastes.

Category 2: Organic waste, which is left over food items, kitchen waste, fruit and vegetable peels etc. See Appendix D for sample of organic waste.

Category 3: Trash: This is house hold trash that is neither recycled nor used for composting and is taken to Landfill.

E. Actions by Residents

Prohibition of waste throwing on empty plots and open spaces.

RESIDENTS WILL NOT THROW ANY TYPE OF WASTE IN ANY EMPTY PLOT OR OPEN SPACE. THEY WILL ALSO STRICTLY INSTRUCT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND DOMESTIC STAFF TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS. THE RESIDENCE OWNER WILL BE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLATION OF THIS RULE AND LIABLE TO BE SEVERELY PENALISED.

Residents will segregate their waste into 3 categories – recyclables, organic and trash. This means each household must work on 3 bin / bag system, one for recyclables, one for organic waste and one for trash.

GUIDELINE NOTE: a. Try to generate least overall waste. b. Try to maximise recycling and composting at house-hold level. c. Create least output and burden for the CBC waste collection truck.

Residents will follow the following instructions:

	Type of waste	Actions by Residents
Category 1 (Recyclable waste)	These are papers, cardboard, flattened cardboard boxes, , newspapers, magazines, copies, tins, aluminum and steel cans, metal parts, plastic bottles, glass bottles, plastic containers, plastic tubs and jugs. See Appendix C for sample pictures.	1. This is the most precious and fully recyclable component of waste. Collect and store this category, in separate bin / bag, without mixing with the other two categories of waste. 2. You have two options. Either you may sell or give this category of waste to the “kabari wala” OR You can hand over this waste in bags or bins to CBC collection truck – without mixing with the rest of the trash.
Category 2 (Organic waste or Wet waste)	Organic waste could be left-over food items, kitchen waste, Fruit and vegetable peels etc. See Appendix D for sample of organic waste.	1. Collect and store Organic waste, in separate bin / bag, without mixing with Recyclable or Trash category. 2. Preferably and where land is available, make composting arrangements within your own house, by putting this waste in compost pit (inside your house) on daily basis. 3. If a compositing arrangement is not possible, this waste must be put in a separate bag and handed over to the CBC truck.
Category 3	These are items that can neither be recycled nor composted and could include dust, small pieces of rags, used tissues etc.	1. Collect in a separate bin and hand over to the CBC Waste Collection Truck.

F. Handing over waste to CBC waste Collection Truck:

To save on overall collection time, residents must bring out their already segregated 3 categories of waste in separate drum / bins / bags, in shortest possible time ( no more than 2-3 minutes) after the siren has been sounded or bell has been rung.

Residents will not keep their waste drums outside the gate, till the Waste Collection Truck siren is blown. Waste drums/ bins / bags must be brought out only at the time of arrival of the CBC Waste collection truck.

Hand over your waste, already segregated in 3 separate bags or bins for easy handover / transfer to the collection trucks. If you are yourself selling / giving recyclable waste to a “Kabaree” and have your own composting arrangement, you need to just give the category 3 trash to the Waste Collection Truck.

G. Actions by Waste Collection Trucks

Blow the siren on arrival in each street and then repeat to ensure it is heard by all residents.
To give a fair opportunity to all, ring the bell of any home that could not bring the trash out or did not hear the siren.
Receive the bag / bin / drum from each resident and check if the contents have been correctly segregated into the 3 categories. If not, point out the fault and issue a red slip to the owner. It is a pre-printed slip, which says,

“House no …………, Your waste segregation into 3 defined categories is not as per the policy defined by CBC. Please ensure correct waste segregation in future. CBC may refuse to collect your garbage in case of incorrect segregation. Thanks. “

Each Waste Collection Truck will have 3 separate compartments / separations. One for Recyclables, one for Organic waste and one for Trash.

Keep each category of waste in its allocated compartment in the Waste Truck. Do not mix the different categories of waste with each other.

H. Disposal for 3 categories of waste

CBC Truck will carry and unload each category of waste at its CBC designated waste dumping locations. These are three locations or Transfer Stations i.e. Collection point for Recyclables, b. Collection points for Organic waste (a place where CBC can carry out composting activities) and c. Collection point for trash. The final collection point for trash will be a designated landfill.
CBC will define a procedure to segregate and further dispose the Recyclables in an environmentally friendly and profitable way. Records of amounts / quantities of Recyclables disposed shall be maintained.
CBC will define a procedure to handle and compost all organic waste in a scientific manner so as to produce fertiliser , which can be used by CBC itself for its gardens or disposed in an environmentally friendly and profitable way.
Trash will be deposited in Landfill. It will be weighed and a record of daily waste delivered to landfill be maintained.
Tractor trolley will remove any debris / construction material / tree cuttings / garden refuse from in-front of a resident’s house. Residents will be required to call CBC Helpline to receive this service, free of cost.

I. Prohibition of waste throwing in empty plots and open spaces by CBC staff.

CANTONMENT BOARD STAFF WILL NOT THROW ANY TYPE OF WASTE IN ANY EMPTY PLOT OR OPEN SPACE.

Under no circumstances the CBC cleaning staff will throw trash, swept from the roads, in any empty plot or open space, as that is likely to immediately become a “Katchra Kundi”.
CBC janitorial staff shall use collapsible and reusable garbage bags (sample shown in Appendix E) for temporary / interim retention of garbage, for a short time, till it is collected by the garbage truck or any other CBC trolley / vehicle allocated for this purpose. This may be directly coordinated between the CBC vehicle and the janitorial supervisor for each area.
The collapsible garbage bags can be folded and carried back at the end of the day, by the janitorial supervisor, for on-going re-use.

J. CBC actions for empty plots and open spaces.

CBC shall have zero tolerance for waste throwing in empty plots and open spaces. Its numerous actions to eliminate this practice shall include but not limited to the following:
Cordon off all empty plots from their sides that open on roads by adequate and prominent means. Use tapes, barriers, chains, nettings or any other means.
At every empty plot, place at least 2 large notice boards that prominently forbid throwing of any type of waste on the empty plot or open space.
CBC will clearly state the any one throwing “Katchra” on empty plots or open spaces will be fined Rs.5000. The fine will be recovered from the house-hold responsible for throwing ‘katchra’ and not from the domestic staff.
CBC shall use cameras to randomly monitor different empty plots and identify violators.
Daily visits of CBC Inspectors to check if this rule is being followed and to identify violations.
CBC shall ask all citizens to report any ‘Katchra’ throwing in open plots on CBC Helplines. Any such complaint must be responded immediately and action taken.
Placing large size banners at numerous prominent places stating the prohibition of throwing “Katchra” at open spaces.

K. CBC actions for Awareness Campaigns and communication with Residents.

Awareness banners by CBC: CBC shall place at least 5 types of large sized banners at numerous prominent places in CBC on each of the following subjects:

Promotion of segregation of waste into 3 categories.
Prohibition of throwing any “katchra” in an empty plot or an open space.
Eliminating the use of Plastic bags.
Garbage pick up schedule for each of the six zones.
Asking citizens to report violations at CBC Helpline.

CBC will place the entire WMS documentation on its website. The 5 key issues mentioned above shall be specially highlighted on the website to draw attention of those visiting the website.
CBC shall periodically, say once every 3 to 4 months, prepare and distribute a one page pamphlet amongst residents, which highlights the 5 key issues and any other WMS expectations from residents.

L. Health, Safety, Physical and Social Wellbeing

All tasks done by CBC will be performed only after Hazards and Controls of the specific task have been identified, documented and implemented. As an example, janitorial workers sweeping the roads or collecting garbage are exposed to dust, bacteria, biological materials, heavy weights, heat exposure to sun etc. Some of these hazards could lead to lungs, eyes and skin diseases, musculoskeletal injuries, sun strokes, falling from truck, dehydration, etc. So at the minimum each janitor must be provided safety shoes, eye goggles, face mask, sun cap and gloves. In addition each worker must be provided uniform, high visibility vest, water bottle, and appropriate equipment for sweeping, picking up and transportation of waste. Each group supervisor must be provided collapsible garbage bags used for temporary storage of garbage for a few hours – till it is picked up by a CBC vehicle.
The janitorial staff performs a job that is not just hazardous and strenuous, but is also socially looked down upon by society in terms of status and acceptability. It is therefore an organisation’s ethical responsibility to take steps that will uplift their lives and status. Therefore all staff performing any janitorial tasks will be paid Rs.5000 per month in addition to their regular salary, which under no circumstances will be less than the least legal minimum salary fixed by the Federal Government. Janitors will also be provided all facilities such as free medical treatment, annual leave, EOBI and Social Security.

M. Gutters and sewage line maintenance

CBC will allocate a unique number and document location of each gutter on a map. It will ensure all gutters are covered at all times except when under maintenance.
CBC will ensure through its own daily inspection system that no gutters have broken or missing covers and no gutters are over flowing. Any such discrepancy shall be mitigated immediately by CBC.
A plan for regular on-going preventive maintenance of gutter cleaning shall be prepared and implemented by CBC. This will be a preventive maintenance plan and not dependent or subject to a complaint.
Residents are encouraged to report to CBC Helpline, any overflowing gutter or a gutter with missing cover .
Records of preventive maintenance will be kept.

N. Procedure for those working inside manholes / gutters

Working in gutters / manholes shall be declared as a life-threatening and Confined Space activity.
CBC shall do its best, to use wherever possible, machines, pumps and equipment instead of employees for working inside gutters.
CBC shall define a procedure for working in gutters / sewage manholes, which describes the sequence, permissions, pre-requisites and precautions to be taken
No person will enter a gutter / manhole without a document called PERMIT TO WORK, which has been authorised by 2 immediate supervisors in the line of work. This document must confirm the availability of following:
1. Full protective suit that includes full body suit, waterproof/ abrasion-resistant gloves, face visors, safety helmet, footwear and eye protection.
2. Availability of respirator – a protective device that covers the nose and mouth or the entire face or head to guard the wearer against hazardous atmospheres.
3. That the gutter is safe to work, the gases have been checked and the manhole made safe for work.
4. Ventilation blower that is available for continuous supply of fresh air.
5. Availability of Safety harnesses, rescue ropes.
6. First-aid equipment, including clean water or sterile wipes.
7. Equipment as well as trained persons to rescue and lift out an individual from the manhole (in case of an emergency).
8. Fresh water arrangement for cleaning and washup.
9. Any other equipment or training necessary for working in sewage manholes

O. Records

Records are maintained for:
All activities carried out on daily basis
All planned maintenance carried out by CBC
All gutter entrances and their Permits for work.
All inspections carried out by CBC inspectors.
All waste collected and disposed of category wise.
All internal and external audits
All helpline calls and actions taken.
Minutes and decisions of annual performance review by top management.
Residents’ Feedback Survey carried out each year.

P. Internal and external audit monitoring, checking, testing

CBC will, twice every year, carry out an internal system audit to determine the performance of its WMS.
CBC will, once a year, carry out an external system audit to determine the performance of its WMS.
Volunteer citizens/ residents will train CBC staff on how to carry out internal system audits and volunteer to supervise their internal audits for first year.
Volunteer citizens/ residents will train CBC staff on how to carry out external audits and volunteer to conduct external audits for first 2 years.
CBC will take corrective actions on non-conformances identified in each internal and external audit.

Q. Review and continual improvement

CBC top management will, at least once and preferably twice a year conduct an overall performance review of its WMS. This will be based on performance data from every activity and every inspection. The review would be based on data from the following sources.
Percentage of daily waste collections accomplished / not accomplished in each zone every month.
Amount of waste collected in each category every month.
Extent of category wise waste segregation by residents.
Number of complaints received at Helplines and their corrective actions
Results of internal and external audits and the corrective actions taken.
Results of daily inspections carried out by CBC staff.
Incidents and accidents reported each year.
Residents feedback survey result. This survey would be conducted by CBC once every year.

Naeem Sadiq

October 30, 2020