1. INTRODUCTION

2. SOURCES OF WASTE

3. COLLECTION AND TRANSFER OF WASTE

4. DISPOSAL OF WASTE

5. ISSUES AND OBSERVATIONS

References

The objectives of economic development and poverty alleviation, as they exist today, seem to be conflicting with environmental considerations, resulting in the absence of effective environmental management in the cities. Cities are full of contradictions for human development, resulting in centres of "growth and wealth" on the one hand and "need and poverty" on the other. Poverty to a large extent is linked with the degraded environment and the rapid population growth. But there is a tendency to overemphasise the second factor, thereby undermining the consequences of degraded environment, although the impact of local environments are both visible and dangerous.

Environmental degradation also has long term effects on resources and human potentials, thereby threatening the overall eco-system. On the information front, there is an absence of the most essential information for decision making and for execution of appropriate development programmes which would incorporate environment - security-poverty system. This would also have implications for the opportunity for participation of the poor in the general socio-political and economic system. A careful analysis of the living conditions of the poor and their perceptions on the daily environment, coupled with their creative responses, would contribute to our understanding the major source of progress.

Today’s cities are duel systems providing many spaces for self-management and planning on the one hand, and restraining popular initiatives on the other. In view of the inadequacies of bureaucratic planning and technocratic management models, the prospects of strengthening popular autonomy and self expression will have to be effectively re-enforced and integrated for economic independence and political democracy.

Global Agenda for Urban Environment of the United Nations Conference of Human Settlements (UNCHS), have underlined the principles governing the process of Urban Environment Planning and Management (EPM). These have been grouped under five main headings :

1.1.1 Better environmental information and technical expertise

1.1.2 Better environmental strategies and decision-making

1.1.3 More effective implementation of environmental strategies

1.1.4 Enhanced institutional and participatory capacities

1.1.5 More effective use of scarce resources for capacity-building and change

International support programmes of United Nations agencies, other multilateral organisations, bilateral institutions, NGOs, and of other international organisations illustrate strategies for co-operating with and supporting cities in implementing their urban environment agenda. These programmes include :

It is estimated that the global burden of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) amounted to 1.3 billion metric tonnes in 1990, or two-thirds of a kilogram of waste per person per day. It is widely accepted that industrialised countries account for a disproportionately high share of the world’s waste relative to their share of the world’s population. Analyses across countries and over time reveal that the generation of MSW per capita does not vary with population size among countries with comparable per capital income. In the more wasteful economics, there are higher expectations for waste services, but insufficient attention to waste reduction and recycling. Understanding of the dynamics and the costs of MSW management needs to be increased among the public and also among administration and politicians.

Studies on solid waste management have recorded the composition of solid waste in major Asian cities. SWM practices in Asia differ from those in the West, in that the waste produced in Asia is largely recycled owing to the fact that it is no ‘wegwerfgesellschaft’ or a society that believes in using and throwing.

1.3.1 International Differences in Solid Waste Parameters

Paper and plastic contents are generally higher in cities like Tokyo and Singapore. In cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the ash/soil content is very high due to the burning of coal and space heating during the cold seasons whereas the proportion of papers, textiles, and the light materials is very low, due to recovery and recycling.

In general, the South Asian countries have high percentages of organic and inert matter in their disposed residues, whereas the northern and central Asian regions have more synthetic and combustible materials, metals, glass, and toxic goods such as batteries.

Most of the reports on MSW for cities in south Asia note waste generation rates ranging from less than 0.5 kg/capita/day to 0.8 kg/capita/day; the central area reports show a higher generation rate of more than 0.75 kg/capita/day. The composition of waste for select cities of Asia is given below.

1.3.2 Composition and quantities of solid wastes in select Asian cities.

Developing countries, especially in Asia, are being transformed into a world of cities and towns. Recent projections indicate that more than half the population in these developing countries will be living in urban areas by the year 2020. Urban population growth has been fueled by migration from rural areas for prospects of higher incomes that have largely been realised. Yet cities have not been able to provide a better quality of life despite the relatively higher incomes of urban populations. With respect to drinking water, population in the urban areas do not have direct access to potable water, and even those having access often are not sure about the quality. Very similar problems are encountered in other areas of basic urban services such as sanitation, collection and disposal of solid wastes, air and water quality, transport as well as education and health services.

The lifestyles in an urban environment are basically influenced by the level of urbanisation, industrialisation and degree of consumerism as well as the capacity of the communities as reflected through the culture, administrative and institutional capabilities and extent of mobilisation for a collective response. Today’s urban environment is characterised by the problems which have global characteristics on the one hand, and possibilities of local solutions on the other. The efficiency of these local solutions have been well established in the given context. However, the effectiveness of their global application or possibilities for scaling up of these applications, have yet to be established.

Although, one can list a number of environmental issues that need immediate attention, the concerns of Preceup, as reflected in the exercises undertaken during the last few years, both in terms of research and action, highlight four major dimensions. These major dimensions of urban environment, that is, air, water, solid waste, and sanitation, which affect the lifestyle, are influenced directly by the manner in which these dimensions are managed. For the purpose of analysis, these dimensions have been elaborated in terms of the source, the impacts, the management process, the technologies, and the actors involved highlighting certain common characteristics and distinctions. Since solid waste management represents a more complex and comprehensive dimension, this document tries to explore further details with regard to the various stages in the solid waste management cycle. A cursory glance at this cycle indicates the possibility of universal application to the other dimensions of urban environment.