Pakistan’s fertiliser and cement sectors, keeping in view the power crisis, have started using solid waste as alternate energy source and about 1,000 tonnes of waste material is being utilised for production of bio-fertiliser and energy after recycling through modern technology.
The private sector took the initiative to get solid waste from the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) on a daily basis and make it useful for industrial and agricultural purposes.
The LWMC signed agreements with the DG Cement Pakistan Limited and the Lahore Compost to supply more than 1,000 tonnes of solid waste on a daily basis for recycling.
These companies utilise modern technology to segregate the waste into two major components: one is burnable and the other is organic. The burnable component is being used as fuel in the industrial units while the organic material is separated for bio fertiliser with the aim to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers.
The Lahore Compost started production of compost fertilisers besides obtaining energy from the burnable solid waste.
DG Cement shifts the solid waste after segregation of the material in Mehmood Booti to its cement plant in Chakwal, where it is utilised for power generation.
Sources in the LWMC said the company was earning millions of rupees annually from these agreements.
Although the income from these projects is not substantial, but this initiative would explore new ways of opportunities in energy and bio-fertilisers from recycling of solid waste, the sources added.
