Open Waste Burning Harms Air, Endangers Health
News Desk
Islamabad: Experts at X Space, previously Twitter, highlighted that hazardous emissions, including particulate matter, dioxins, and volatile organic compounds, contribute significantly to smog, leading to a host of respiratory and cardiovascular problems for the public.
Experts at X Space sounded alarms on Saturday, emphasizing the severe threats posed by the open burning of municipal, agricultural, and industrial waste in Pakistan.
In response to this critical issue, the Institute of Urbanism (IoU) and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) collaborated to organize an X Space event aimed at spotlighting the impact of open waste burning on smog and its dire consequences for health and the environment.
With Pakistan generating a staggering 48.5 million tonnes of annual municipal waste, cities like Islamabad grapple with sustainable waste management challenges. Inefficient waste collection strategies result in waste accumulation and open burning, particularly in areas lacking proper services.
Despite the prevalence of waste burning in numerous Pakistani cities, there’s a scarcity of documented data pinpointing the most problematic areas or the underlying reasons behind this practice.
Ayesha Majid, Senior Program Coordinator at IoU, highlighted from a recent survey in Islamabad and Lahore that a majority of respondents were unaware of existing laws against this practice and the associated environmental or health hazards.
The open burning of waste poses a significant threat, emitting toxic gases and black carbon in diverse settings, lacking clear regulations and enforcement. The Royal Academy of Engineering is actively addressing this issue through 19 global projects, focusing on vulnerable groups and promoting improved waste management, citizen reporting, and regulatory enforcement.
Dr Mansoor Ali, RAE’s theme lead, emphasized their multifaceted approach spanning national policies, city frameworks, and grassroots practices, recognizing the livelihood link for waste pickers.
Lahore, once renowned as the “city of gardens,” has succumbed to a drastic 75 percent reduction in greenery over the past decade, coupled with a worrying 10-degree temperature surge. An alarming 60 percent of diseases in Lahore are attributed to air pollution.
Imrana Tiwana, an environmental activist, traced the roots of Lahore Bachao Tehreek to a case 16 years ago involving a highway construction project threatening green spaces near the Lahore canal. The Supreme Court’s intervention led to the Canal Urban Heritage Path Act, a landmark legislation recognizing the environment as a vital heritage and public trust.
Exposure to pollutants from open waste burning, particularly during the smog season, poses severe health risks ranging from respiratory and cardiovascular issues to increased cancer risks and compromised immune systems. Vulnerabilities vary across demographics, with children, the elderly, and low-income communities facing higher risks.
Dr Abdullah Najam, a postgraduate resident pulmonologist at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, reiterated how toxic air exacerbates existing health conditions, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular complications across diverse demographic groups.
In Islamabad, routine waste collection of 600 to 700 tonnes used to take place until recently, with the disposal site located in the I-12 sector. However, citizens lighting fires for warmth during winters contributed significantly to serious air pollution threats.
Sardar Khan Zimri, Director General of Water Management at the CDA, emphasized the need for targeted awareness campaigns to tackle the prevalent issue of open burning in rural areas of Islamabad, effectively reducing associated environmental and health risks.
Vehicular Emissions Leading Case of Capital’s Poor Air Quality
Karachi confronts a daily challenge of managing 15,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste, resulting in open burning issues, especially in low-income areas. The Karachi School of Business and Leadership’s (KSBL) ‘Mapping of Open Burning’ project aims to correlate these incidents with social vulnerabilities using spatial mapping and analytical tools.
Shiza Aslam, Waste Management Specialist and Research Fellow at KSBL, stressed that impactful media coverage can draw attention to the link between open burning and smog, prompting communities to reconsider waste disposal practices and encouraging municipalities to adopt cleaner alternatives.
Senior anchorperson Farid Rais, moderating the Twitter space, underscored the need for extensive awareness campaigns involving various stakeholders and partnerships with public and private institutions, media, and academia to combat the issue of open waste burning.
The Twitter Space served as a pivotal platform to raise awareness about the critical issue of open waste burning and its detrimental effects on air quality, public health, and the environment. The panel’s insights underscore the urgency of addressing this pressing concern in Pakistan, emphasizing the immediate need for sustainable waste management solutions in cities like Islamabad.
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