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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