Critical Environmental and Health Challenges Due to Open Waste Burning in Farash Town, Islamabad

Open waste burning poses significant threats to the environment and public health globally. According to a recent report by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, open waste burning has become the third most common method of waste disposal worldwide, with 14% of households resorting to it. This practice releases black carbon, a potent contributor to global warming, into the atmosphere. Toxic gases and chemicals from burning waste further pollute both air and water, contributing to smog, poor air quality, and environmental degradation. The report also notes that one million people die annually in low-income and developing countries due to diseases linked to poor waste management, including open burning.

In Pakistan, the challenges of waste management infrastructure are extensive. Roughly 50 million tons of solid waste is generated annually, increasing at a rate of 2.5%. The open burning of agricultural, industrial, and municipal waste has resulted in widespread air pollution across the country. With severe implications for public health, this pollution exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular issues, while smog and fog in urban areas worsen each winter.

Islamabad, once known for its pristine climate, has seen air quality deteriorate significantly. A rise in population, rapid urbanization, and the unchecked practice of open waste burning have left Islamabad grappling with air quality challenges. This research article explores the environmental and health impacts of waste management issues in Islamabad, focusing specifically on Farash Town, a CDA sector that typifies both urban and rural settlement characteristics.

Open Waste Burning in Farash Town: Contributing Factors

Farash Town is an urban settlement developed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to accommodate families relocated from areas like Bari Imam and other informal settlements. Located about 17 kilometers from Rawal Lake along Lehtrar Road, Farash Town comprises three phases, with two currently developed. In 2011, only 2,000 homes existed here, but the population has since surged, bringing the number of houses to over 5,000. Despite being a CDA-designated “Model Village,” Farash Town faces many of the same challenges as unplanned settlements, particularly in waste management.

Unlike other CDA sectors, Farash Town lacks a structured waste management system. The CDA does not provide regular door-to-door waste collection services here, forcing residents to discard waste at street corners. When waste piles up without collection, residents turn to open burning as a solution. Saad Hameed, a resident, noted, “The waste management system in Farash Town is non-existent. Garbage remains in the streets for months, and only occasionally do CDA teams visit for collection.”

Another resident, Muhammad Adnan, expressed frustration over the CDA’s approach, stating that the lack of timely waste collection exacerbates the issue. “People burn the waste out of necessity when it sits for too long. Sometimes, even the contractors hired by CDA set fire to the garbage instead of properly disposing of it,” he shared.

This cycle of delayed collection and open burning has increased the pollution levels in Farash Town, contributing to air contamination and negatively impacting public health.

Health Problems Stemming from Open Waste Burning

Dr. Rana Irfan, a physician in nearby Alipur Farash, observed a marked increase in respiratory issues among patients in areas affected by open waste burning. He explained that the toxins released, including carbon monoxide and dioxins, exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and lung infections. “Children, with their weaker immune systems, are particularly susceptible to respiratory diseases caused by these toxic emissions,” Dr. Irfan said, emphasizing that pregnant women are also at risk due to chemicals that can disrupt fetal development.

Dr. Irfan has noted an increase in cases of low birth weight and lung infections, which he attributes to the poor air quality resulting from waste burning. He added, “Fine particulate matter from waste burning seeps into the bloodstream, increasing risks of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and even mental health issues. In areas with high levels of air pollution, like Farash Town, these health problems are becoming far too common.”

Environmental Impact of Open Waste Burning

Environmentalist Aftab Alam highlighted the ecological toll of open waste burning, stressing that toxic pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) damage air quality in Islamabad. “The air in Islamabad has been worsening for years. Open waste burning and unchecked construction contribute significantly to this pollution, which increasingly resembles the severe smog problems of cities like Lahore,” Alam observed.

The lack of garbage collection infrastructure in rural and semi-urban areas like Farash Town forces residents to dump waste in open areas, which is often set on fire to manage the accumulation. Alam warns that without intervention, the situation will only worsen. “Only 25% of Islamabad’s waste reaches proper dumping sites; the rest is left on roadsides, where it’s often burned,” he explained. The burning of solid waste has severe effects on urban temperatures, and the resulting air pollution could lead to acid rain, which harms both plant life and soil fertility.

Administrative and Legal Constraints to Prevent Open Waste Burning

In Islamabad, three agencies – the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), and the ICT Administration – are responsible for controlling air pollution, including open waste burning. However, limited planning, inadequate infrastructure, and resource shortages restrict their capacity to address the issue.

CDA’s DG Civic Management, Sardar Khan Zimri, acknowledged the difficulties in managing waste collection in rural areas like Farash Town. “The CDA lacks the resources and manpower to conduct house-to-house collection. Instead, we rely on secondary and tertiary waste collection, which is often delayed,” Zimri stated. Despite occasional fines, Zimri noted that penalties under the Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI) Act are minimal, with fines often amounting to only Rs 500 or Rs 1000.

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) is critically under-resourced, operating with only five personnel and a single vehicle to monitor pollution levels across the entire Islamabad region. This limited capacity constrains its ability to effectively oversee and manage the growing number of industries, businesses, and other pollution sources in the city.

Zaigham Abbas, Director of the NEQS Lab at Pak-EPA, expressed concerns about the agency’s constrained resources. “Despite our best efforts to enforce air quality standards and fine violators, the lack of adequate funding and manpower severely hampers our ability to respond effectively to pollution issues in the city,” he explained. “With the current setup, it is impossible to conduct comprehensive air quality monitoring or address the problem of open waste burning across all sectors.”

Key Challenges in Addressing Open Waste Burning

1. Insufficient Waste Management Infrastructure: Due to limited collection services, many residents in Farash Town are left with no option but to burn waste as a disposal method.
2. Lack of Public Awareness: Low awareness about the health and environmental impacts of open burning contributes to the widespread acceptance of the practice.
3. Financial Constraints: Low-income communities often cannot afford formal waste disposal services, leaving them dependent on self-managed waste solutions, including burning.
4. Cultural Practices: Open burning of waste has become a habit in some communities, a practice that is exacerbated by population growth and limited waste disposal options.
5. Legislative Gaps: Weak enforcement of existing waste management regulations and the lack of legislation specifically addressing open waste burning limit the ability to control it.
6. Limited Community Involvement: With little community engagement in waste management policies, residents lack alternative disposal methods and resort to open burning.

Global Best Practices in Environmental Governance

Globally, several cities have successfully addressed the issue of open waste burning by employing effective waste management policies and community engagement initiatives. In countries like Japan, South Korea, and Sweden, advanced waste separation, recycling, and incineration techniques have drastically reduced the amount of waste that requires burning. Local governments have adopted comprehensive public awareness campaigns and incentivized responsible waste disposal practices.

In cities like San Francisco and Amsterdam, zero-waste initiatives focus on reducing waste generation through recycling and reuse programs, while community education on waste segregation ensures proper disposal and treatment. The Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants common in Europe serve as models for transforming waste into valuable resources. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) promotes sustainable waste management practices worldwide, underscoring the importance of a holistic approach that combines legislation, education, and infrastructure.

Human-Centered Solutions for Rural Areas Like Farash Town

Implementing sustainable, human-centered solutions for rural areas of Islamabad like Farash Town requires both government support and active community involvement. Following are actionable strategies that can help mitigate the practice of open waste burning in Islamabad’s rural areas:

1. Dedicated Landfill Sites: Islamabad generates between 800 and 1000 tons of waste daily, yet it lacks a dedicated landfill site. Establishing a temporary landfill of 20-25 acres could alleviate waste management pressures in the short term, while a larger site of 100-150 acres should be developed to accommodate the city’s long-term needs.
2. Enhanced Waste Management Infrastructure: CDA and Pak-EPA require additional funding and staff to address waste management in remote and under-served areas effectively. Better-equipped teams could manage waste collection more frequently, reducing the need for open burning.
3. Stricter Penalties for Waste Burning: Amending existing regulations to enforce stricter penalties for illegal waste burning, alongside a rigorous enforcement mechanism, could discourage the practice. Heavier fines and community service penalties could be effective deterrents.
4. Public Awareness Campaigns: Raising awareness about the health and environmental impacts of open waste burning can encourage residents to adopt alternative disposal methods. Educational programs at the community level could foster behavioral changes, while incorporating environmental topics into the school curriculum could shape future generations’ attitudes.
5. Community-Based Waste Solutions: Collaborating with local communities to develop low-cost waste disposal solutions that are culturally acceptable can help alleviate waste burning. For instance, composting organic waste could serve as an alternative for residents with limited disposal
6. Introduction of a Mobile App or Hotline: A simple mobile app or hotline could provide a user-friendly way for residents to report instances of open waste burning directly to the relevant authorities. Such a platform would allow citizens in rural and urban areas alike to instantly report illegal burning activities to the CDA or Pak-EPA, prompting faster response times. With GPS-enabled reporting, the location of the incident could be pinpointed, allowing swift intervention. This solution would not only help in monitoring open waste burning but also serve as a deterrent by increasing the likelihood of timely action and fines for those violating regulations.

Closing Thoughts: While the problem of open waste burning in Islamabad, especially in rural areas like Farash Town, poses substantial environmental and health risks, solutions are within reach. By combining effective waste management infrastructure, community engagement, strict regulatory measures, and global best practices, Islamabad can reduce pollution and improve the quality of life for its citizens. The need of the hour is for government agencies, local communities, and private organizations to collaborate and take collective action in tackling this critical issue.