Managing solid waste is one of the major challenges of the urbanization in Nepal.  Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization, lack of public awareness, poor management by municipality has intensified the problem of the waste in Nepal. In Nepal many areas faces difficulty in the management of the water, solid waste and waste water treatments. Municipality is wholly responsible for the collection, treatment and final deposition of the solid waste generated by the household, organization and school.   But due to the lack of keen dedication in the solid waste management there is the high problem of the waste in many parts of the country. The survey was carried out by the Asian Development Bank and found that average per capita household waste generation rate was 170 grams (g)/capita/day. The study also described that the household waste generation rates differs with the economic status and climatic conditions. On average, households with monthly expenditures of NRs40,000 ($417) and above generate more than twice as much waste as households with monthly expenditures of less than NRs5,000 ($52). Households in Terai municipalities generate nearly 80% more waste than those in mountain region municipalities. For institutional establishments, the average daily waste generation was 4.0 kilograms (kg) per school and 1.4 kg per office. Similarly, the average daily waste generation of commercial establishments was 1.4 kg per shop and 5.7 kg per hotel or restaurant. Based on the analysis and findings, it is estimated that waste from households in general contributes about 50%–75% of the total MSW generated. Thus, the average MSW generation was found to be 317 g/capita/day. Using these per capita waste generation rates and the population in 2011, the total MSW generation of the 58 municipalities was estimated at about 1,435 tons/day and 524,000 tons/year. The analysis of household waste composition presented that the highest waste category was organic waste with 66%, followed by plastics with 12%, and paper and paper products with 9%. The composition analysis of institutional wastes revealed 45% paper and paper products, 22% organic wastes, and 21% plastics. The study found that commercial wastes comprised 43% organic wastes, 23% paper and paper products, and 22% plastics. In aggregate, MSW is composed of 56% organic waste, 16% plastics, and 16% paper and paper products. This indicates great potential for producing compost from organic waste, and reusing and recycling other materials, with only about 10% going to final disposal if resource recovery is maximized. The study uncovered that about 30% of surveyed households in the municipalities were practicing segregation of waste at source and composting using traditional methods of management. 

 

The waste problem is escalating in my region too, in my campus. With the aim to aware the people of my region, preserve the biodiversity and scenario of the University, make the effective implementation of the law for the proper disposal of the waste, segregation procedure of the waste we had planned to carry out the mass cleanliness campaign at the collage premises. This campaign was initiated by waste management wing of the Youth Endeavour for the Sustainable Agriculture a non profit organization which is working for the betterment of the environment and Agriculture sector since a decade. This campaign is the joint collaboration of my university IAAS Paklihawa, Youth Endeavour for the sustainable Agriculture and UNEP Tunza Eco Generation Regional Ambassador. The preliminary survey of the campus site was made by the team and I was one of the organizing committee member. Our survey has found that there is the maximum solid waste, paper, biodegradable wastes, plastic and glass bottle, more importantly a wrapper of junk food items.  So we had planned to organize the mass cleanliness campaigns, awareness through drama and demonstration of waste segregation process, installing of various colored dustbin at different spot of the campus, making the law for the waste management. There is the presence of around 100 members at this programme. The campus chief, campus administration of my University also showed their keen interest and support us for this programme. We had also invited mayor of this municipality and presented our problems of the  waste.

Programme summary:

This programme was carried out in two basis formal and informal.  Formal programme was carried out with the  speech from campus chief Dr. ram Bhajan Mandal, Assistant professor Mr. Subodh Khanal from Department of Agroecology, Dr. puspa Raj Poudel from Department of Horticulture. They had presented about the need of the waste management at collage, municipal solid waste management strategy. The chief guest who is also the mayor of this municipality has discussed the plan they are preparing for the solid waste management in this area. He has also presented about the planning of the Big Biogas project at this municipality. He has promised to work for the betterment of the society, environment and preservation of the biodiversity of this collage in upcoming days too.

 

Street Drama

Drama was also carried out by the team for creating awareness to the people about the proper disposal, encouraging them to make compost, segregation of the waste, using biodegradable waste to make vermi compost, bio fertilizers. We also presented the negative impact of the haphazard disposal of the waste in the environment and human health.

 

Demonstration about the management and segregation of Waste

The demonstration of the management and segregation of waste is carried out by myself and my friend Roshma Pandey.  The different colored dustbin was sponsored by IAAS Paklihawa. We had demonstrated about the color code of dustbin and their meaning. Green Dustbin for the degradable waste ,blue for the solid waste like bottle plastics, red for the hazardous waste, yellow for the hospital waste like bandage, cotton, syringe needles etc. We also demonstrated about the use of the effective microorganism for the management of the waste, procedure to use the effective microorganisms.

 

Informal programmes:

This includes the mass cleanliness of the campus areas ,  waste collection from the landfill areas, installing of the dustbin in different spot. I am extremely grateful to all my seniors, juniors, staffs and all the helping hands for the collection of the waste from the collage

Out come and Suggestions:

Ø       The landfill area will be used for the academic purposes after the proper collection and management of that area.

Ø        The swimming pool site of the collage area will be used for the culture and cultivation of the ornamental fishes

Ø        For the biodiversity enumeration various medicinal plants, herbs and trees  will be planted

Ø        Effective follow up of the campus area either the waste has been properly disposed or not will be done by myself and my team

Ø        MOE will be signed and declaration will be made for the law and punishment will be enforced if the violation of the law is carried out by public

Ø       Independent eco club will be formed in the collage

Ø       Research will be carried out for the effective microorganisms and their performance will be studied

 

 

Hence it is an absolute proud moment for me, Tunza Eco Generation Regional Ambassador from Nepal for being the supporting Eco Partner for the Cleanliness, demonstration and awareness campaign related to the proper disposal of the waste, proper segregation of the waste (solid waste, municipal waste, household waste, paper waste, e-waste, glass and plastics, biodegradable waste at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science Paklihawa Nepal. I am extremely grateful towards the Youth Endeavour for the sustainable  Agriculture and IAAS paklihawa and all those helping hands for supporting this idea and assisting us for the grand success of the programme.

 

 References:

ADB. (2013). Solid Waste Management in Nepal: Current Status and Policy Recommendations. Asian Development Bank (ADB). Retrieved from http://cpfd.cnki.com.cn/Article/CPFDTOTAL-ZGKL200509001593.htmhttps://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/30366/solid-waste-management-nepal.pdf