Respite may be coming for waste disposal woes in the capital Dili as the Asia Develop Bank (ADB) committed funds for a team of specialists to undertake a research project into the problem.
According to a representative from the ADB, Allison Woodruff, the support is based on an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government of Timor-Leste and ADB to help the country find a solution for the growing problem with waste disposal in the capital.
“The government intends to develop Dili as a tourist destination but before the tourists come it needs to manage and control its waste disposal,” said ADB representative Woodruff at Ramelau Hotel, in Dili.
She added waste dis-posal is likely to become a significant problem as the nation develops and it can lead to disease spreading in the community therefore the adequate management of waste disposal is needed.
The Director General for Water and Sanitation at the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) Joao Jeronimo thanked ADB for its support with the research study and that its outcomes will allow the government to development adequate management pro-cesses for waste disposal.
“The research will provide the government with options,” said Director Jeronimo.
Meanwhile the Chief of the Department of Sanitation for the Municipality of Dili, Domingos dos Santos said a number of different types of waste in Timor-Leste can be recycled to make way for other products like boxes, paper, plastic and glass bottles, and others that can be re-used or turned into fertilizers.
He added the private sector would be looking at opportunities in this area.
“This recyclable waste is worthless in our country as we don’t have companies that can recycle it to make money and reduce the levels of waste,” he said.
He added that in Timor-Leste the management of waste is not adequate because there isn’t enough private sector involvement such as there is in other more developed nations.
