Analysis of the Benefits of Introducing the Integrated Solid Waste Management Approach

Analysis of the benefits of introducing the integrated solid waste management approach in developing countries: case study in Kathmandu City

Abstract:

Kathmandu metropolitan city (KMC) is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valleythat consists of two sister cities:Lalitpur to the South and Bhaktapur to the East. It is located in the bowl shaped valley at an elevation of 1400 meters from the sea level.The rapid economic and population growth experienced in the last decade has brought a significant increase in the amount of urban waste generation. The main problems associated with waste management are the lack of proper sorting at source, the very low recycling levels and the and inappropriate final disposal that is causing environmental pollution around the present landfill site where the methane gas is liberated openly in the air and leachate gets mixed with the nearby river polluting the river water and soil. The current dumping of organic wastes causes the emission of CH4 into the environment (CH4 is 25 times more powerful GHG than CO2). Moreover, there is lack appropriate sanitary landfill for final disposal waste.

In this research we analyze the potential environmental and socio economic benefits of organic waste treatment and recovery of other recyclable materials. The recovery of organic waste by composting and bio-gasification hasboth environmental and socio economic benefits. In the case of environmental benefits the treatment of organic wastes (that accounts for more than 60% of the total waste in developing countries) will not only lessen the burden of waste transportation and final disposal but it will also have a huge impact on GHG emission reduction. The socio-economic benefits are not only related to job creation but also higher quality of life associated with a cleaner environment. The research provides four different scenarios that focus on organic recovery and informal recovery at the transfer station. The result compare the GWP, BOD, final disposal waste and recycling levels and highlight the benefits when the condition of the present landfill is improved and the new sanitary land fill site is introduced.

This study will provide recommendation to both the government and various projects closely associated with non-governmental agencies in order to have sustainable approaches to manage the solid waste in the Kathmandu city.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment, Waste management, Organic waste, Sanitary landfill and Composting