Dhaka’s solid waste mangament: Issues and prospects

The 409-year old city of Dhaka had many ups and downs politically, economically and functionally. Conservancy service began in the early days of Moghul regime dated back in 1717. During the British regime in 1820, a committee was set up known as Municipal Committee to look after the sanitation of the city. Thereafter in 1864, Dhaka municipality was established. The conservancy service was borne and managed by manual labours/cleaners. The cleaner used to collect and dispose of human excreta in the trenching grounds and subsequently a water carriage system was introduced in 1963 with a separate set-up known as DWASA for better liquid waste management and proper sanitation. Similarly the refuse were collected by cleaners with bullock carts and disposed off in nearby low lying areas. Then the significant improvement took place in the field of solid waste management. The bullock cart was suspended in 1982 and open trucks were introduced to carry the refuse to dumping sites. The other change took place in the old city during mid 1989 by introducing night time collection instead of day time. Recently DCC has introduced the demountable constraints to modernize the transportation of solid waste.

Dhaka Municipality was entrusted with all the public works of civic amenities, the milestone of which might be referred to water supply, lighting, conservancy, public instruction and construction of roads, drainages, markets, parks, playground, community centers, bus terminal and burial grounds.

The elective principle in this civic body dates back to 1884 when the act of 1884 provided that, the chairman, the vice-chairman and the two thirds of the commissioners to be elected. The municipal area and the population residing within it increased sharply to 35.5 sq. km. in 1961 and the population stood at about 0.58 million. The municipality awarded the status of the Corporation in 1978. Two adjacent municipalities namely Mirpur and Gulshan were merged with it in 1982. As a result, the area expanded to 316 sq.km. Subsequently other areas have been incorporated. At present the area under the City Corporation is 364 sq.km. The Corporation was statute with the introduction of the Dhaka Municipal Corporation Ordinance 1983. Finally it was renamed Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in 1990.

The city is experiencing a rapid population growth since independence (1971). At present, its population has exceeded 20 million. The present legal foundation of solid waste management is the Municipal Ordinance 1983 and Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995 (EPA). EPA deals with only with the control and disposal of Radio-active substances having a provision of penalty up to five years imprisonment. Dhaka Municipal Ordinance 1983 has a provision for the removal of refuse from all public streets, public latrines, urinals, drains and dustbins. The Environmental Policy 1992 simply intends to restrict disposal of municipal, industrial or agricultural waste in rivers, ponds and drains, discourage open truck transportation and day time collection of waste. These legal foundations give a guideline about the duties of the present two Dhaka City Corporations (DCCs).

Today greater Dhaka covers an area of over 364 sq. km. as a result of rapid growth. There has been a substantial deterioration in the level of the services provided to the cilty inhabitants. Whether one look at traffic congestion, public transport, quality of roads, storm water drainage, solid waste collection and disposal, water supply, sewerage, air quality, public hygiene, availability of housing the deterioration is perceived to be in every sector and the issue is only the degree of deterioration.

To be fair, it has to be admitted that these problems are not unique to Dhaka city alone. They are inherently generic in nature and experienced, in varying degrees, in most large Asian cities. However, most of us believe that things can be and should be much better. What is heartening is that there does appear to be a realization at the govt. level, city govt. level and the public level that there is need to do something and to do quickly, specially on solid waste management which is the number one problem throughout the world.

Solid waste management in greater Dhaka is about 4,50,000 MT per day/per man. It may be 2.5 million Tons per year in 2015 (as disclosed by Chief Conservancy Office). Presently solid waste generated in Dhaka is collected from the bins and taken either directly to the landfill site or to the transfer station. Studies by various agencies have been conducted for improvement of existing collection and disposal system and their operation in scientific manner. DCC is also taking up various projects for alternating the problems. But unfortunately it is yet to be successful to bring back the negative attitude of the inhabitants.

On analyzing the data and summarizing the essence of dialect sessions, field visit experiences were considered together to meet the objectives. Many shortcomings have been identified as waste collection coverage is slightly over 50% and uncollected wastes spread on access roads causing aesthetic and health problems. Moreover, wastes are piled or heaped on the ground near container, spillover is common, discharge offensive odours, which are identified as regularly irregular phenomena. There is lack of transparency and accountability of the DCC personnel, their integrity is questionable. Again inadequate state of legislation on waste management, illegal disposal of waste, littering on street is the major indicator of shortcomings.

There is an acute inter-departmental coordination problems, duplication of efforts and resources. No special attention for management of hospital waste is seen. Waste management employees in different sectors are not well-trained. Absence of commitment and sincerity among the employees hamper the solid waste cyclic system. Public awareness campaign on solid waste management and motivation work for city dwellers are very much casual type.

So for ensuring better systems of solid waste management thrust must be given to develop a data base for good planning. It is necessary to increase productivity and efficiency of the system and to promote cleaner and healthier environment for the citizen; and to facilitate proper resource utilization and conversion. Again it needs to develop efficient monitoring and management process and to be given a support to change the habits of people in indiscriminate littering of waste. It is essential for strengthening institutional and financial management planning and to contribute to human resource development increase productivity of the worker. Moreover, management laws, institutional capacity building and training, public awareness programme, contracting out in the private sector management, support for small scale enterprises, encouraging private initiatives  and involvement of NGOs, PSOs should be taken into consideration.

The writer is Deputy Director General & Commandant (PRL), Ansar-VDP Academy, Safipur, Gazipur.

 

Dhakas solid waste mangament: Issues and prospects

The 409-year old city of Dhaka had many ups and downs politically, economically and functionally. Conservancy service began in the early days of Moghul regime dated back in 1717. During the British regime in 1820, a committee was set up known as Municipal Committee to look after the sanitation of the city. Thereafter in 1864, Dhaka municipality was established. The conservancy service was borne and managed by manual labours/cleaners. The cleaner used to collect and dispose of human excreta in the trenching grounds and subsequently a water carriage system was introduced in 1963 with a separate set-up known as DWASA for better liquid waste management and proper sanitation. Similarly the refuse were collected by cleaners with bullock carts and disposed off in nearby low lying areas. Then the significant improvement took place in the field of solid waste management. The bullock cart was suspended in 1982 and open trucks were introduced to carry the refuse to dumping sites. The other change took place in the old city during mid 1989 by introducing night time collection instead of day time. Recently DCC has introduced the demountable constraints to modernize the transportation of solid waste. Dhaka Municipality was entrusted with all the public works of civic amenities, the milestone of which might be referred to water supply, lighting, conservancy, public instruction and construction of roads, drainages, markets, parks, playground, community centers, bus terminal and burial grounds. The elective principle in this civic body dates back to 1884 when the act of 1884 provided that, the chairman, the vice-chairman and the two thirds of the commissioners to be elected. The municipal area and the population residing within it increased sharply to 35.5 sq. km. in 1961 and the population stood at about 0.58 million. The municipality awarded the status of the Corporation in 1978. Two adjacent municipalities namely Mirpur and Gulshan were merged with it in 1982. As a result, the area expanded to 316 sq.km. Subsequently other areas have been incorporated. At present the area under the City Corporation is 364 sq.km. The Corporation was statute with the introduction of the Dhaka Municipal Corporation Ordinance 1983. Finally it was renamed Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in 1990. The city is experiencing a rapid population growth since independence (1971). At present, its population has exceeded 20 million. The present legal foundation of solid waste management is the Municipal Ordinance 1983 and Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995 (EPA). EPA deals with only with the control and disposal of Radio-active substances having a provision of penalty up to five years imprisonment. Dhaka Municipal Ordinance 1983 has a provision for the removal of refuse from all public streets, public latrines, urinals, drains and dustbins. The Environmental Policy 1992 simply intends to restrict disposal of municipal, industrial or agricultural waste in rivers, ponds and drains, discourage open truck transportation and day time collection of waste. These legal foundations give a guideline about the duties of the present two Dhaka City Corporations (DCCs). Today greater Dhaka covers an area of over 364 sq. km. as a result of rapid growth. There has been a substantial deterioration in the level of the services provided to the cilty inhabitants. Whether one look at traffic congestion, public transport, quality of roads, storm water drainage, solid waste collection and disposal, water supply, sewerage, air quality, public hygiene, availability of housing the deterioration is perceived to be in every sector and the issue is only the degree of deterioration. To be fair, it has to be admitted that these problems are not unique to Dhaka city alone. They are inherently generic in nature and experienced, in varying degrees, in most large Asian cities. However, most of us believe that things can be and should be much better. What is heartening is that there does appear to be a realization at the govt. level, city govt. level and the public level that there is need to do something and to do quickly, specially on solid waste management which is the number one problem throughout the world. Solid waste management in greater Dhaka is about 4,50,000 MT per day/per man. It may be 2.5 million Tons per year in 2015 (as disclosed by Chief Conservancy Office). Presently solid waste generated in Dhaka is collected from the bins and taken either directly to the landfill site or to the transfer station. Studies by various agencies have been conducted for improvement of existing collection and disposal system and their operation in scientific manner. DCC is also taking up various projects for alternating the problems. But unfortunately it is yet to be successful to bring back the negative attitude of the inhabitants. On analyzing the data and summarizing the essence of dialect sessions, field visit experiences were considered together to meet the objectives. Many shortcomings have been identified as waste collection coverage is slightly over 50% and uncollected wastes spread on access roads causing aesthetic and health problems. Moreover, wastes are piled or heaped on the ground near container, spillover is common, discharge offensive odours, which are identified as regularly irregular phenomena. There is lack of transparency and accountability of the DCC personnel, their integrity is questionable. Again inadequate state of legislation on waste management, illegal disposal of waste, littering on street is the major indicator of shortcomings. There is an acute inter-departmental coordination problems, duplication of efforts and resources. No special attention for management of hospital waste is seen. Waste management employees in different sectors are not well-trained. Absence of commitment and sincerity among the employees hamper the solid waste cyclic system. Public awareness campaign on solid waste management and motivation work for city dwellers are very much casual type. So for ensuring better systems of solid waste management thrust must be given to develop a data base for good planning. It is necessary to increase productivity and efficiency of the system and to promote cleaner and healthier environment for the citizen; and to facilitate proper resource utilization and conversion. Again it needs to develop efficient monitoring and management process and to be given a support to change the habits of people in indiscriminate littering of waste. It is essential for strengthening institutional and financial management planning and to contribute to human resource development increase productivity of the worker. Moreover, management laws, institutional capacity building and training, public awareness programme, contracting out in the private sector management, support for small scale enterprises, encouraging private initiatives and involvement of NGOs, PSOs should be taken into consideration. The writer is Deputy Director General Commandant (PRL), Ansar-VDP Academy, Safipur, Gazipur.