Household Waste Management—A Case of Bihari Camp
摘要
Household waste managementHousehold waste management was carried out with a view to exploring the waste management systemWaste management system of the Bihari campBihari Camp case study (Geneva camp) in Dhaka. Waste is produced wherever people live, and human activities are responsible for producing waste. Wastes become harmful to the environment and human health where the population density is high and wastes are not properly managed. In Dhaka city, 23,234 people live per square kilometerKilometer distance to disposal, i.e., 3 people live per 1000 ft2. The Bihari camp is a densely populated area where 79 people live per 1000 ft2, i.e., 26 times more people live in comparison to the average population density of Dhaka city. Huge quantities of waste are generated in the Bihari campBihari Camp case study. A committee was formed by the residents of the Bihari camp to manage the waste with the service charge collected from the households. This chapter investigates the present household waste managementHousehold waste management system and examines the application of 4Rs principles4Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover). Several tools were used, including questionnaire survey, focus group discussion, key informant’s interviews, and observation. A total of 117 households were selected using random sampling techniques from 5500 households of the Bihari camp. All interviews were taken to find out about the existing waste management practice, and find out the main problems in waste management. It was found that households are applying the 4Rs principle4Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) in reducing the reduction of their waste. It was found that the higher-income group’s households generate more waste compared to the lower-income group. The higher-income group enjoys a lot of different types of foods and uses more materials compared to the lower-income group. It found that the average waste generated in the Bihari camp is 0.61 kg per person/day. Out of which, food and vegetable wastes are 75.4%, plastic and polythene wastes 4.92%, glass/ceramic wastes 1.64%, packaging materials and paper wastes are 8.2%, metal and metal cane wastes 1.6% and miscellaneous and other inorganic wastesInorganic waste 8.2%. It was identified that households use the brick-concrete-built primary dustbinsPrimary dustbins inside the camp that are in dilapidated condition; the top and front side are open. As a result, disposed waste comes out or overflows from the dustbins and occupies the road, spreading a nauseating environment all around and clogging drains. Numerous problems have been identified, including an insufficient workforce for the collection and transportationTransportation costs of waste from primary dustbinsPrimary dustbins to secondary waste containers; a deficiency in waste-carrying equipment such as pedal carts and motorized rickshaw vans; and a lack of awarenessLack of awareness among households concerning the proper disposal of household waste in primary dustbinsPrimary dustbins. Moreover, the illiteracyIlliteracy impacts rate is higher in the Bihari camp compared to our national average, and they are not aware of the impacts of waste, health, hygieneHygiene practices, and application of the 4Rs principle4Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) in reduction, reuse, and recyclingRecycling. It is recommended that primary dustbinsPrimary dustbins should be reconstructed/renovated, the collection and transportationTransportation costs capacity of waste from primary dustbins needs to be increased by increasing labor and equipment, and an awareness-building program among the Bihari community should be arranged. Community leaders of the Bihari camp, Local Government Authority/DNCCDhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Government should take action to implement the recommendations without any delay to safeguard the local environment and human health of the Bihari camp.