Garbage- Condition, Problem, Collection & Management in Kathmandu
What is Garbage?
Unnecessary items that are coming out of people’s kitchens, homes, offices, and work areas are called garbage. It is also known as trash, rubbish, or junk. Things like unwanted food, chemical substances, paper, broken furniture, used containers can be included in this list. Garbage is categorised in different ways. Liquid or solid, hazardous waste, medical/clinical waste, electrical waste, recyclable waste, etc.
Condition of garbage in Kathmandu
Kathmandu is a densely populated area of the country. About 3 million people live in this city. Waste food, vegetables, fruits, pieces of glass, metal, cloth, vehicles tires, furniture, plastic, paper, electric goods or parts, etc. are the main garbage. More than 50 percent of these wastes are organic and can be decomposed. There is also plenty of waste of metal, glass, and furniture. About 1 ton of plastic is thrown out of this place daily. Waste of 300 to 400 tons of cloth is also thrown away monthly. Apart from these, many other types of wastage come out here on a daily basis. The amount of liquid waste coming out of the house and kitchen is also high. There are, of course, disadvantages of garbage in the valley. Lack of proper management can lead to many problems. There is a fear of spreading various contagious diseases. The randomly thrown garbage has made the city stink. The chowks and streets have become ugly. Tourists who come for sightseeing also do not like the junk here. Problems such as cutting off the hands and feet of the employees assigned to manage have also been caused by the trash thrown indiscriminately. And it has made a mockery of the civilisation of the people here.
Collection & management system
There are more than a dozen local bodies in Kathmandu Valley including Kathmandu metropolitan city, Lalitpur metropolitan city, Bhaktapur municipality, Nagarjuna municipality, and Chandragiri municipality. The effluent from these places is dumped at the sisdol landfill site in Nuwakot district. Earlier, it was managed at the banchare danda landfill site in the same district. The main responsibility for garbage management lies with the local bodies. Apart from local bodies, private companies and institutions are also involved in waste management in Kathmandu Valley. More than 80 private companies are working on its management. More than 4,000 workers are doing this work. Hundreds of large and small vehicles have been carrying waste. Some people also come to the home and office to get recycled and reusable glass, iron, paper, bottles, etc. This is also a very good thing because it has helped to reduce the waste and reuse of goods on the other side. Similarly, some organisations and some groups on social media have also taken initiative in the management of rabbis here. Arrangements have been made to donate old clothes, shoes, electronics items, etc. These items can be dropped off at Nakhipaet, Durbar Marg, Bhaisepati, and other places and people who need them can get these items free of cost. Here is the list of some private company and organisation that works in this field.
1. Doko recyclers
2. Khaalisisi
3. Upcycle Nepal pvt.ltd
4. Sukhawati store foundation
5. Eco saathi
6. Nepsemyk
7 . Beautiful suppliers
Permanent and proper management
Rubbish is not a problem in itself. Lack of proper management is the root of the problem. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle by giving priority to the problem of rubbish can be easily solved. First of all, it is important to spread awareness among the people of Kathmandu about garbage. It is also important to teach them how to categorise in their own home. Reusable and recyclable materials should be used accordingly. Rotten things should be encouraged to be used in vegetables and crops by making them into organic manure. Local bodies should also provide proper vehicles and materials for the collection of trash. They also have to keep proper dustbins for disposal in different places of the city. And those who spread waste or rubbish indiscriminately should be discouraged and brought to justice.
