Governance of urban waste management
Integrated
waste
management includes reuse, source
reduction, recycling,
composting, land filling and incineration
SHISHIR REZA
Waste management in preindustrial times was trouble-free as most of the waste consists of unrefined materials which decompose naturally. With the change of consumption patterns non biodegradable synthetic materials such as plastic have become, one of the leading causes of marine and coastal pollution.
The management of waste is one of the obligatory functions of urban governance institutions in Bangladesh. The yearly escalation in urban population of Bangladesh is over 3.3per cent. Population Division of UN (2016) has mentioned the urban Population Status in Bangladesh: it was 23.8per cent in 2000; 30.4 per cent in 2010 and 2016 it is now 34.9per cent. It can be 38per cent of the total population by the year of 2020. Waste generation has also augmented proportionately with the intensification of urban inhabitants. As such, inner-city governing institutions are facing difficulties to keep pace with the insistence ofample waste management services.
Approximately 250 industries are discharging chemical effluents into urban water bodies. Each day 4 thousand tons solid waste 22 thousand tons tannery waste mixes with water in 4 rivers of Dhaka city. Poles apart industries and their contribution to pollution in Dhaka city are: Pulp paper - 48per cent; pharmaceuticals - 16per cent; Metals - 15per cent; Food industry - 12per cent; Fertilizers/pesticides - 7per cent. In urban areas, wastes are discharging directly into the rivers and low-lying part around the urban areas.
Disposal of solid wastes in all the urban areas is inadequate. Household garbage, industrial wastes and infectious wastes from clinics and hospitals are all dumped in the same place. Waste estimation of five hospitals in Dhaka city is given here: Dhaka medical college 1.19, Popular hospital 1.23, Lab Aid 1.20, Salimullah medical college 0.80, Ibne Sina hospital 0.83 per day/kg/bed/day, respectively.
With the current practices in collection, transportation and crude dumping of solid wastes, municipal areas of Bangladesh especially the city corporations are generally faced with rapid deterioration of environmental and sanitation insecurity.
This result makes unhygienic and filthy living conditions at urban area. With the multiplicity of environmental problems created by urban waste, now the question of governance in urban solid waste management is more imperative than ever.
As an urban governance institution, City Corporation is primarily accountable to enforce existing policies in managing its solid waste through recycling and non-polluting disposal methods.
Although there are 1000 street cleaners in the Dhaka city corporation, most of the streets are never swept. Daily waste production in Dhaka city is about 3000 metric tons, of which 40per cent are left on the streets. Nowadays, in south city corporation 3 thousand 500 tons waste are generated where 1 thousand 900 tons are processed. But 1 thousand 600 tons are out of processing.
In addition, generation of electronic wastes such as televisions, refrigerators, computers, tube lights, and mobiles has created a new threat for us. Environment and development organization (2016) mentions during the period of 2011-12, it was 5 million metric tons and 2013-14, it was11 million metric tons. The rates are mounting day by day in Bangladesh.
In general, governance of waste management is essential for environmental security. Integrated waste management includes reuse, source reduction, recycling, composting, land filling and incineration. Better design of 3Rs (reuses, reduce and recycle) strategy can play a vital role to 100per cent source reduction. In addition, large-scale composting and recycling program ensures to 10per cent and 30per cent waste source reduction. For liquid wastes and effluents disposal, we have to set-up waste and effluent treatment plant in every red and orange colored factory, enlisted by department environment through environmental laws and policies. For medical waste disposal, incineration would be feasible to treat.
As the heap of waste materials spread creates odor pollution to and fro, establishment of green building and related incentives would give confidence to occupy recycled-content materials and instruments at new-fangled construction. Also, providing financial supports for waste management in industrialization can be environment friendly through enhancing sustainability.
In urban area, awareness of waste management, odor pollution, impacts of effluents among people are urgent. It can be practical through community waste management driver, pressure, state, impact, response (DPSIR) framework.
The writer is an environment analyst and Associate Member of Bangladesh Economic Association
