Solid waste management
Waste collecting
Waste is a universal and highly visible phenomenon. The perspectives towards solid waste are often contradictory: While by affluent societies it is often considered plainly as garbage or an environmental problem, in many cities in Africa and other developing countries it is an important and flexible source of income for the large part of urban population and provides raw material to many sectors of economy. Waste collectors form a vital part of the economy in nearly every city of the developing world.
Operating on the streets, curb-sides and dumps, this group of people collect, sort, clean, recycle and sell material thrown away by others, therefore contributing to public health, sanitation and environmental sustainability. According to estimates, “about 1 per cent of the urban population – at least 15 million people – survive by salvaging recyclables from waste”, in the developing world.
Practical Action are working with some of the poorest communities to safely and securely improve their waste management and collection methods. This brings improvements to the health of the slum dwelling families and the creation of safer healthier places to live and work.
Our approach on waste-related work is similar to that in other infrastructure and services. It falls into four areas:
- Working towards improving service provision in slum, peri urban and low income areas. This involves making arrangements for waste collection through organising communities or influencing municipalities and private sector. We expect that the social outcome of this provision, if done at scale, is improved health and a cleaner living environment.
- We encourage income and employment creation from waste related activities and promote decent, safer work for the poor. This can often be combined with the provision of services in their own areas, or other areas where the income potential may be better. This is also supported by introducing innovative approaches and better technologies for waste reduction, recycling and reuse.
- We directly support the development of better technologies, knowledge, innovation and communication for all the actors in waste management. This can be done in a number of ways, for example by encouraging research organisations to focus on topics which benefit the poor, promoting mutual learning and enhancing abilities of self analysis and learning.
- We influence national and global policies in waste management in favour of poor men and women. We promote successful models and lobby for better practices globally.
Tulasa Gyawali from Syauli Baazar, Nepal
Tulasa Gyawali from Syauli Baazar, 10 Bharatpur, won first prize in a national innovation fair and was asked to share her story in an international symposium for her continuous effort on utilising waste in urban agriculture.
“I was honoured when I received the first prize. In my house, I have a compost bin and pits and I practice vermin composting too. I do not throw decomposable waste; instead I convert them to resources and use them to grow organic vegetables, she smiles.” ISWM project in collaboration with Bharatpur Municipality had earlier distributed compost bins in Syauli Baazar. Residents of the community do not throw wastes in the street corner as before. People are making compost from organic waste. They separate plastic in their homes and they sell them to the plastic collectors.
According to Tulasa, “this is one of the positive changes from the project. Waste management training to the community has changed people’s attitude toward disposing waste. Now we think waste as a resource.”
Tulasa and other community members were taken to India for waste management exposure visit. “The visit was educating and motivating for me and to my neighbours. We observed the good practice in Forum of Recycle and Environment (FORCE), Mumbai and now we have replicated that practice in our community.”
In Tulasa’s community, 10 HHs have built a masonry compost pit in order to accommodate more organic waste and to sell the compost to the local nursery and farmers. This is an example of how awareness can make a difference.
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Best Practice in Solid Waste Management
This manual demonstrates successful waste management in Nepal. Practical Action Nepal
Published by Practical Action Nepal
Health-Care Waste Management in Developing Countries
This brief gives an overview on healthcare waste treatment options focussing on incineration.
Veronica Di Bella, Published by Practical Action
Managing Organic Municipal Waste
This technical brief outlines the main methods of putting organic waste to good use.
Jonathan Rouse, Published by Practical Action
Planning for Sustainable Solid Waste Management
This technical brief presents some important considerations for planning solid waste systems.
Jonathan Rouse, Published by Practical Action
Recycling Organic Waste
Here are a few options to dealing with organic waste.
Dia Rees, Published by Practical Action
Recycling Plastics: Starting a business
An introduction to plastic recycling looking at the reasons for recycling and the practicalities of small-scale businesses.
Sophie van den Berg, Published by Practical Action
Recycling Rubber
This brief explains the use of rubber and its production. It also shows how importent it is to recycle rubber.
Dia Rees, Published by Practical Action
Recycling Used Lead Acid Batteries
Batteries are used whenever electrical energy is needed and are common around the world but can be harmful.
Sophie van den Berg, Published by Practical Action
