"Challenges and Opportunities in Managing Municipal Waste of Small Cities in Developing and Under Developed World: Nepalese Perspective"

Mr. Babu Raja Shrestha*

 

 

(The views presented by the author in this concept note are solely for the purpose of presentation in Ashoka Fellowship Workshop to Be Held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.)

 

 

Abstract

The widespread concept is that the municipal waste management is very crucial in the context of Nepal. Increasing population density is the leading cause of municipal management problem in urban domain of Nepal. The collection and disposal of municipal waste is not satisfactory. Most of the municipalities have been dumping their wastes in nearby river or in open fields and there is lack of sanitary landfill sites to dispose of generated wastes. Some municipalities' do practices compost preparation from collected biodegradable waste. Recycling of waste (plastic, metal, glass, etc.) is negligible. The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu is only the metropolitan city, 3 are sub metropolitan and 54 are municipalities. Mobilization of resources and priority for municipal waste management is heavily concentrated on metropolitan. In other municipalities, municipal waste management concept is yet being to implement in reality. Villages linking with these municipalities further aggravate the problem of waste, as poor rural people are unaware of basic sanitary practices and migration from rural to urban is high. The trend of migration from rural to urban areas creates tremendous pressure in municipal services including municipal waste management.

The population in fifty-seven municipalities is less than 200 thousands, but the population growth rate is alarming. The characteristics of municipal waste in Nepal are very unique and are practically free of hazardous materials. It is very timely to implement an effective municipal waste management system in smaller municipalities of Nepal before it will become too late to address the problem. It will become mysterious, difficult and unmanageable if not taken in consideration on time. A well-planned municipal waste management system in smaller cities/municipalities is therefore warranted and could be solved with local available technologies.

BMC-SILT has initiated a model municipal waste management system in Biratnagar sub-metropolis and it is successfully running. This model could be copied elsewhere in the similar settings.

1.    Background

 

Nepal, a small landlocked country sandwiched between India and China. The total population of a country is 24 million. It is among the least developed countries and is increasingly facing serious environmental problems

The importance of protection of environment and sustainable development has been realized globally. Population growth, rapid urbanization and increasing industrialization have raised the level of pollution in every aspect of the environment, destabilizing the ecological balance of the system. This effect of destabilization has threatened all the living things on earth, including human.

The pace of urbanization is high in Nepal especially in capital and other municipalities. Since the planning efforts couldn't cope with urbanization, several negative consequences predominant in the country.

One of such consequences is added burden to municipal waste management system. The concentration of opportunities in cities and poor security in villages is further aggravating the problem.

 

2.0 Municipalities and Waste Management System In Nepal

The importance and necessity of municipal waste management is recognized late in Nepal as compared to developed countries. Nepal has 58 municipalities including 1 metropolitan and 3 sub metropolitan. The population of metropolitan is around 750000 whereas other municipalities have less than 200000 populations. The resources and emphasis for municipal waste management is highly concentrated on metropolitan. Though other municipalities represents fairly large number of population, the municipal waste management system were not given due considerations like in metropolitan. The brief description of municipal waste management system is out of the scope of this concept paper.

This paper analyzes that the migration of people is taking place from rural to municipal/metropolitan. Based on the facts that the waste generated in small cities is very low in volume and composition of the municipal waste is mostly organic. Thus emphasis should also be given to all the municipalities in waste management.

The municipal waste management does not fall in priority of municipal development activities although city cleaning and removal of the waste is one of the regular basic municipal service provided solely by municipalities. The conservative thinking, ignorant behaviors of the people, ineffective management of the responsible authorities have leaded to un-managed municipal waste. Collaborative approach can drastically change the situation by creating an opportunity converting waste to resource in resource lacking municipalities.

 

 

3.0 Characteristics of Smaller Municipalities/Cities Waste: Nepalese Context

Strength

·        The municipal waste of small cities/municipality is particularly non-toxic and do not fall in the category of hazardous waste in Nepal

·        Higher percentage of waste is biodegradable (kitchen wastes, rotten fruits and vegetables, left over food waste from household, garden waste etc) is very good raw material for compost production

·        Containers and packaging materials are mostly non -biodegradable but recyclable. The value oof the recyclable waste, such as plastics, cardboards, papers, and glass bottles, metallic cans etc. is substantial compared to the wage of an unskilled labor. The rag pickers and scrap dealers are making their livelihood by collecting and selling these recyclable products.

·        Inert non degradable waste such as construction material waste from new constructions or demolishing works, waste from street sweeping, waste not collected by recyclers are good raw material for back filling the ditches and eroded river banks

·        The garden waste and agro waste from the weekly vegetable markets is good ingredient for briquette production. The briquette is a healthy substitute for cooking fuel

·        The quantity of waste generated in small cities is considerably low and it is easy to handle manually. If properly handled the municipal waste of the small cities/municipalities could become resource.

Weaknesses

·        Literacy rate of municipality is low compared to metropolitan,

·        Lack of resources, knowledge and capacity of municipality in handling municipal waste

·        People have perception that waste related affairs is the sole responsibility of municipality and the waste collection services should be free of any services charges.

·        The willingness to pay for basic municipal services including the municipal waste services are very poor

·        Lack of awareness on municipal waste management. They believe "waste is valueless and stinky object and must not fall under their individual responsibility" as well as they believe that the waste handling job is the business of so called lower class people or under privileged people of society

4.0        An Approach for Establishing Municipal Waste Management System in Small Municipalities: An Experience of BMC –SILTES, Biratgnagar Sub Metropolitan, Nepal

A systematic approach is needed in addressing municipal waste management system in smaller cities/municipalities. It is in this context an initiation for bringing the resources for smaller municipalities is needed. Municipal waste is manageable provided timely intervention by citizen, public, private and government. The initial intervention could be in the areas of awareness raising, establishing "polluters pays" principle, and by levying charges for managing waste as well as organizing the informal waste recycling practice. .

It is in this line of thought BMC-SILTES have successfully carried out some "on the ground" solution and approaches in Biratnagar. This model is briefed here to give an example on how "win-win" situation could be created in small municipalities under the existing situation highlighted above.

Before 1997, systematic municipal waste management system was non-existence in Biratnagar. Biratnagar municipality do not had door-to-door waste collection system and people were dumping their waste at the road curbs, or in any open places they find convenient. The burden of collection and dumping was entirely the responsibility of municipality. The municipality with limited resources, used to collect and dispose the waste by the side of river in an irregular basis. The system was highly primitive, irregular, and unscientific.

In 1997, an integrated municipal solid waste management system was introduced in Biratnagar. A private joint-venture company named "BMC-SILTES" brought an innovative idea of practically handling the waste by providing their services in collaboration with municipality and local communities. The management change from traditional municipal system to a private management was smooth and effective. BMC-SILTES has started door-to door services (on a monthly service fee basis), street sweeping, collection and hauling of wastes, and final disposing it in a sanitary landfill sites. BMC is also engaged in successfully managing landfill sites, production of manure by composting, production of items from recycling of wastes, production of beehive briquette.

The willingness to pay for the waste collection service is still very low. People's personal habits in sanitation are yet not improved and lack of knowledge on "waste" still needs to be improved. BMC-SILT establishes a president that a step-by-step approach is needed in municipal waste management; it could be handled with local available resources in minimal cost provided necessary patience is needed. This model of BMC-SILT could be successfully replicated in other municipalities in Nepal and in other part of the developing and underdeveloped world.