Md. Shah Paran :
Wastes are not new. Waste generation is rooted to the origin of mankind. We, human beings, are responsible for generating and managing waste. History shows that early humans simply dug hole and buried their refuse and trash. This was an effective technique in that time as their generation of waste was relatively small. Even a few decades ago waste management was not a major concern in a developing country like Bangladesh. Population growth has become one of the severe problems in our time. Due to uncontrolled population growth there emerges unplanned urbanisation, industrialisation which generates a huge amount of waste. People are migrating to cities rapidly and the projected urban population growth rate from 2010-2015 is 3%. This growing urban population particularly in larger cities like Dhaka is creating problem of waste management.
There are various kinds of wastages – municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, wastewater which contains bodily wastes (feces and urine), radioactive waste etc. Municipal solid waste includes household trash, garbage, refuse, sludge and discarded material and the wastes are produced by industry, hospital etc. When waste is not properly collected and dispose, of illegally and causes serious environmental degradation and health hazards. In Dhaka city, waste collection rate is very low and most often wastes are thrown to open air. This results in uncollected waste on roads, drains, rivers and other public places which makes people’s life unhealthy vulnerable, and pollutes the environment.
According to UNFPA, Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world and one of the prime issues of concern is the management of municipal waste. Two City Corporations of Dhaka hold the official responsibility of waste management. City Corporations divided their area into 10 zones for management of solid waste generated in the domestic, commercial, industrial and medical sectors. The total solid waste management involves 3 departments for smooth and easy operations namely – Conservancy, Transport and Mechanical Engineering. The aims and functions of these departments are removal of refuse from the public streets/drains; collection, transportation and disposal of refuse and providing dustbins and other receptacles for accumulation of solid waste. The total amount of solid waste generated every day in Dhaka city area is about 4500 to 5000 tons. The total waste collection rate is only 37%. A large proportion of population has zero access to proper waste disposal services which leads to the problem of waste management. Along with City Corporations, a number of NGOs are working to attain proper disposal of solid waste management in Dhaka City. But there is a lack of coordination between the City Corporations and other NGOs. As a result, expected outcome is far away to achieve. People’s participation in this regard is very much needed.
City Corporations have no waste treatment and recycling plant. Some informal sectors are working for recycling solid waste. Economically and socially disadvantaged people work in these sectors. In the open dump, waste pickers are seen working for their livelihood around the dumping bulldozers – a practice that damages their health and pollutes the environment. People are suffering from a number of diseases. Water pollution and air pollution in dumping area are the main causes of their illness. The main reason of such pollution is the improper solid waste management in the landfill. These poor people have little access to education, healthcare and other social services.
Waste collection rate is very low as well as methods of waste management didn’t change over time. We are still using age old practices of waste management. It is seen that wastes are burned to reduce bad odour and to prevent dogs, birds and rats from scavenging of wastes. But this burning process doesn’t follow environment-friendly way. Thus the air is being polluted to a large extent. At the same time, such practice emits Methane (CH4) and Carbon-dioxide (CO2) which contribute to global warming. Landfills and collection bins, containers and vehicles emit methane also, one of the Green house gases (GHGs). Uncollected wastes provide breeding areas and food to potentially disease carrying vectors such as insects and rodents. Improper management of solid waste is causing massive degradation of environment and creating threats to human’s survival. Dhaka city is becoming uninhabitable day by day.
For increasing economic growth, consumption rate is significantly high. Actually ours is an age of high consumption which generates huge amount of wastes than earlier era. High mass consumption is a threat to sustainable development. Waste management problem becomes more severe because most of the households of the Dhaka city do not know how to recycle, reuse and compost wastes. People are not aware of bad impact of waste mismanagement. Almost all of the household wastes are taken to the local landfill for disposal. It increases the total cost of solid waste management.
People’s participation in all aspects regarding waste management is crucial. To minimise the burden on public sector and to improve the solid waste management, City Corporations should encourage increasing stakeholder’s participation in all socio-economic activities. Recent initiative taken by our government with the slogan of ‘Poricchonnno Dhaka’ (Clean Dhaka) should be appreciated. Public education, campaign need to be expanded to inform citizens about their options and role in waste management.
New methods of waste management need to be introduced. We generate waste and definitely we are the ultimate victim of waste mismanagement. It’s high time to become aware of environmental pollution and to take proper measures to protect our city.
Wastes are not new. Waste generation is rooted to the origin of mankind. We, human beings, are responsible for generating and managing waste. History shows that early humans simply dug hole and buried their refuse and trash. This was an effective technique in that time as their generation of waste was relatively small. Even a few decades ago waste management was not a major concern in a developing country like Bangladesh. Population growth has become one of the severe problems in our time. Due to uncontrolled population growth there emerges unplanned urbanisation, industrialisation which generates a huge amount of waste. People are migrating to cities rapidly and the projected urban population growth rate from 2010-2015 is 3%. This growing urban population particularly in larger cities like Dhaka is creating problem of waste management.
There are various kinds of wastages – municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, wastewater which contains bodily wastes (feces and urine), radioactive waste etc. Municipal solid waste includes household trash, garbage, refuse, sludge and discarded material and the wastes are produced by industry, hospital etc. When waste is not properly collected and dispose, of illegally and causes serious environmental degradation and health hazards. In Dhaka city, waste collection rate is very low and most often wastes are thrown to open air. This results in uncollected waste on roads, drains, rivers and other public places which makes people’s life unhealthy vulnerable, and pollutes the environment.
According to UNFPA, Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world and one of the prime issues of concern is the management of municipal waste. Two City Corporations of Dhaka hold the official responsibility of waste management. City Corporations divided their area into 10 zones for management of solid waste generated in the domestic, commercial, industrial and medical sectors. The total solid waste management involves 3 departments for smooth and easy operations namely – Conservancy, Transport and Mechanical Engineering. The aims and functions of these departments are removal of refuse from the public streets/drains; collection, transportation and disposal of refuse and providing dustbins and other receptacles for accumulation of solid waste. The total amount of solid waste generated every day in Dhaka city area is about 4500 to 5000 tons. The total waste collection rate is only 37%. A large proportion of population has zero access to proper waste disposal services which leads to the problem of waste management. Along with City Corporations, a number of NGOs are working to attain proper disposal of solid waste management in Dhaka City. But there is a lack of coordination between the City Corporations and other NGOs. As a result, expected outcome is far away to achieve. People’s participation in this regard is very much needed.
City Corporations have no waste treatment and recycling plant. Some informal sectors are working for recycling solid waste. Economically and socially disadvantaged people work in these sectors. In the open dump, waste pickers are seen working for their livelihood around the dumping bulldozers – a practice that damages their health and pollutes the environment. People are suffering from a number of diseases. Water pollution and air pollution in dumping area are the main causes of their illness. The main reason of such pollution is the improper solid waste management in the landfill. These poor people have little access to education, healthcare and other social services.
Waste collection rate is very low as well as methods of waste management didn’t change over time. We are still using age old practices of waste management. It is seen that wastes are burned to reduce bad odour and to prevent dogs, birds and rats from scavenging of wastes. But this burning process doesn’t follow environment-friendly way. Thus the air is being polluted to a large extent. At the same time, such practice emits Methane (CH4) and Carbon-dioxide (CO2) which contribute to global warming. Landfills and collection bins, containers and vehicles emit methane also, one of the Green house gases (GHGs). Uncollected wastes provide breeding areas and food to potentially disease carrying vectors such as insects and rodents. Improper management of solid waste is causing massive degradation of environment and creating threats to human’s survival. Dhaka city is becoming uninhabitable day by day.
For increasing economic growth, consumption rate is significantly high. Actually ours is an age of high consumption which generates huge amount of wastes than earlier era. High mass consumption is a threat to sustainable development. Waste management problem becomes more severe because most of the households of the Dhaka city do not know how to recycle, reuse and compost wastes. People are not aware of bad impact of waste mismanagement. Almost all of the household wastes are taken to the local landfill for disposal. It increases the total cost of solid waste management.
People’s participation in all aspects regarding waste management is crucial. To minimise the burden on public sector and to improve the solid waste management, City Corporations should encourage increasing stakeholder’s participation in all socio-economic activities. Recent initiative taken by our government with the slogan of ‘Poricchonnno Dhaka’ (Clean Dhaka) should be appreciated. Public education, campaign need to be expanded to inform citizens about their options and role in waste management.
New methods of waste management need to be introduced. We generate waste and definitely we are the ultimate victim of waste mismanagement. It’s high time to become aware of environmental pollution and to take proper measures to protect our city.
