How about establishing a garbage bank?

THERE are lots of things that keep me wondering. Some of the burning questions I live with are: why the problem of waste management is getting costlier, unmanaged and complicated day by day and why do some people do nothing and blame the government for everything instead? We find these burning problems is not only in waste management but in each and every aspect of developmental activities. In every nook and cranny of Kathmandu, we can see dirty and unmanaged streets. Some street vendors sell vegetables, food and other edible things sitting just next to a mound of garbage. I recently did a general household survey in every ward of Ilam Municipality for my university report. There, every household burn their daily plastic and paper wastes. And some of the households said they did so despite having knowledge that the burning of plastics cause adverse effect to their health. Most of them said they did not know how to manage the paper and plastic wastes. In Ilam, municipal vehicles do not collect garbage everyday (except in Ward 1 and 2 and some parts of Ward 3). The case of Kathmandu Metropolitan City is exact opposite. In Kathmandu, there are many waste collectors who manage household waste daily. Yet, anybody can see the wastes being dumped in nearby rivers. We are well aware of the problem, but unaware of the solution. While watching some videos on Youtube, a video on a garbage bank drew my attention. The video gœs this way. Mr Made Baglada is the owner of the bank in Bali, Indonesia. He buys recyclable scraps (especially paper, plastics) from household and students. Many young people have been employed by him who help collect and segregate scraps. In this way, the household themselves take part in waste management by bringing the scraps to the bank and take home certain incentives. The household are happy because, on one hand, they make some savings and on the other hand, they are contributing for environmental conservation. The bank also earns by selling those scraps to industries or other big scrap dealers. In this way the garbage bank is, to some extent, controlling the unemployment problem the country is facing and helping to make the city clean at the same time. We all know that in Kathmandu, as in various other developing cities, organisational structures of waste dealers are very informal in nature. Therefore, the household don’t know where to complain and make them listen to their queries. By establishing a garbage bank arrangements can be put in place to hear grievances. The formal structure will also help the government in providing proper ground for control and supervision. I am not emphasising that the current waste management companies are not doing enough to solve the waste management problem. There are good organisations like NEPCEMAC, who are trying their best to make the city clean and tidy. But still, the numbers are not enough. Waste collectors may not be able to reach every corner of the city. Therefore, if a garbage bank is set up in Kathmandu, it may make a world of difference. It has been estimated that more than 200 tonnes of recyclables are generated in the Kathmandu Valley everyday. Some schemes can be introduced in pursuit of a clean Kathmandu. For example, in case of students, whœver brings used books or paper scraps exercise books or some stationery items could be given in return. Similarly, on the household waste front, some household utensils or some other recycled products could be given. However, all these ideas are subject to an intensive research before setting to work. There should be researches on the pricing of scraps and introduction of such schemes. Similarly, the government should also give a tax subsidy for such initiatives. The Solid Waste Management Act stresses the private sector’s participation in waste management. Therefore, the government, being a major stakeholder, should set the wheels in motion first. (Poudel is a Master’s degree candidate in Technological Economics and Management at Tongji University, China) METRO COLUMN

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