Colombo garbage issue: Tenderers given one year

Shirley Wijesinghe

Two successful tenderers out of five short listed had been given a one year period to submit their proposals with all clearances including environment license for a sustainable solution for the garbage problem in the Colombo city, CMC Solid Waste Management Head P. Thangamyle told the Daily News yesterday.

Each tenderer was given three districts from six city districts to operate garbage disposal process according to the proposals presented by them, he added.

Thangamyle said the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has agreed to provide 60 acres land which belongs to the Sri Lanka Land Reclamentation and Development Corporation to dump the collected garbage and run their recycling process to produce alternative energy sources. A number of plans have to be implemented to streamline the garbage management process with CEA assistance, he said.

The CMC has decided to distribute Home Compost Bins at a concessionary price of Rs. 600 each among city ratepayers which cost Rs.3,600 in the open market today, he said.

The CMC will bear half the cost - Rs. 600 from each bin to subsidize the cost on ratepayer. CMC will receive those bins at a concessionary price of Rs. 1,200 for each from the CEA.