LAHORE: Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) officials have proposed to introduce a tariff system for household waste collection.

The proposal was rejected by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for final approval.

Under the proposal, households would be charged a monthly tariff ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 2,000, while commercial establishments would pay between Rs 500 and Rs 10,000 per month.

Officials say the garbage charging scheme for Lahore would not only generate substantial revenue, estimated at Rs 12 billion a year for the Punjab government, but also ease financial pressure on LWMC’s expenditure, which currently stands at Rs 20 billion a year.

The objective of the proposed tariff is essentially to ensure sustainable financing of waste management operations while reducing the burden on government finances.

Meanwhile, the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) also faces challenges in curbing the ongoing problem of illegal dumping of solid waste in the city.

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The main culprits behind illegal dumping are said to be skid steer and rickshaw drivers along with employees working on minivans owned by private housing societies.

At the same time, LWMC teams responsible for primary waste collection were criticized for arriving late at various locations, causing considerable inconvenience to the general public.

LWMC teams are said to be slow to respond to waste collection requests in various parts of the city and sometimes leave waste unattended till late at night.

Residents of other areas have also reported illegal dumping, raising concerns about effective enforcement of waste management regulations.