DILI, 20 november 2024 (TATOLI)— Main findings of the survey include that the amount of waste in Dili that was surveyed by the Asia Development Bank (ADB) has increased from 190t/day in 2015 to 303t/day in April 2024 during six months that were surveyed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and that it is necessary to introduce and further enhance various measures for tackling the waste increase. Moreover, it is estimated that 26.7t/day of recyclable plastic waste is generated in Dili (only 0.88t/day (3.3%) is recycled).
This statement was informed by the Country Director of JICA in Timor-Leste, Ito Mimpei, when interviewed by TATOLI in his office at Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili.
He stressed the amount of waste continues to increase, and it’s predicted that the amount of waste in Dili will increase 500 t/day in 2040 and will reach 600 t/day in 2048; therefore, Timor–Leste needs to take significant action to tackle the waste management in Dili City.
He said that the survey found 60% of waste is collected by Dili Municipality to Tibar Waste Centre, whereas 40% is not collected.
“This composition happened because some communities did not throw the waste in the green container that was facilitated by the Dili Municipality, but they just burned it at their home and also threw it into the river, and the river brought it to the sea. This is very dangerous for public health, including the cleanliness of Dili City, which needs to be tackled by the Government of Timor–Leste,’’ he said.
Ito Mimpei highlighted the need to tackle this situation. JICA recommended some general stages as follows: improving public health and sanitation, reducing environmental costs, and pollution control. The 3R Initiative aims to promote the “3Rs” (reduce, reuse, and recycle) globally so as to build a sound-material-cycle society through the effective use of resources and materials and providing support for each city’s development stages.
Apart from these recommendations, the government also needs to work with private companies to recycle plastic waste, thus reducing the amount of waste in Dili.
“Based on the survey, around 30 tons of plastic are collected per day, and currently Caltech Company recycles just 2 tons of single plastic per day only; therefore, there are 28 tons of single plastic still remaining every day. Thus, to reduce the single plastic, the government of Timor-Leste needs more companies to recycle the single plastic in Dili City,’’ he said.
Ito Mimpei highlighted during this time the government had prohibited the single plastic not imported more from abroad by law enforcement to reduce the waste; that is a good step, but it needs the maximum control to tackle the management waste in Timor–Leste.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
