BY CLAUDIA TALLY

Waste management in the National Capital District continues to be a challenge and while the city authority has plans and policies in place, there is a need for better implementation of these policies, says Vice Chancellor of the University of PNG Professor Frank Griffin.

In an interview with the Post-Courier, Mr Griffin, who has a vast experience in the field of waste management shared that while the Baruni land fill was used to dump waste that cannot be recycled, other support systems such as recycling plants, green waste diversion activities and others were the missing link.

“It really comes down to how strategies are actually implemented.

There are strategies that focus on collection of waste from various parts of the city but at the same time you really need to have the support mechanism in place to help deal with the waste itself.”

Mr Griffin, who has done extensive work in waste management across areas in the Pacific region, acknowledged the efforts of the NCDC in managing waste in Port Moresby and reckons there is still much to do before waste is managed properly and efficiently.

“The rehabilitated Baruni landfill is catering for all the waste that does not have any value,” he said.

“The support mechanism in terms of recycling, waste diversion activities like composting and diverting green waste for composting purposes, that is not fully developed yet.

“We still have a long way to go in terms of trying to ensure we are on top of the waste management issues in the country.”

Mr Griffin further noted that while there was not much study into the health and well-being of communities along the coastline where most of the city’s waste end up, there was room for pro-active measures.

“We need to have proactive measures in place like education, awareness like do not throw your rubbish anywhere and if you’re going to generate waste, there needs to be proper mechanisms like rubbish bins.” he said.