The environmental costs of Tehran’s push for development and urbanization rise by the day, with the latest threat to the environment — and by extension people — being the overflowing of construction waste at the city’s main dumpsite.
The metropolis produces an unbelievable 55,000 tons of construction waste and debris every day, nearly six times more than the daily household waste, IRNA reported.
“Construction work, from demolition to renovation, produces a lot of waste that is taken to special sites near south Tehran for recycling,” Mosatafa Sarmadi, a deputy at the provincial office of the Department of Environment, said.
However, the 18 sites can only recycle about 20% of the waste; the rest are transported to landfills, with the majority of the waste ending up in Abali.
“The landfill in Abali has run out of space.” In fact, the accumulation of waste in the dumpsite look more like a scary mountain, Sarmadi said.
If the image of a mountain of waste sounds terrifying, it is probably because it is.
On December 20, a mountain of construction waste that had been piled up against a hill collapsed during heavy rains onto an industrial park in Shenzhen, China, killing at least 58 people. Officials fear the death toll may rise as dozens are still missing.
Due to the threat posed by the huge pile of waste, DOE officials urged the Tehran Municipality to stop using the dumpsite. Reports say the municipality has reportedly suggested seven alternative sites to the department.
“We’ve reviewed the sites and have approved three. Once relevant authorities give their approval, construction waste will be taken to those sites,” the official said.
