Solid Waste Management System: A Study on Cox-Bazar Pourashava

2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 26 –28 Dec, 2014 CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh Edited by: M.R.A.Mullick, M.R.Alam, M.S.Islam, M.O.Imam, M.J.Alam, S.K.Palit, M.H.Ali, M.A.R.Bhuiyan, S.M.Farooq, M.M.Islam, S.K.Pal, A.Akter, A.Hoque & G.M.S.Islam

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ID: EE 063

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: A STUDY ON COX-BAZAR

POURASHAVA

K. M. Rahman1, N. A. Hashi

1* & A. Habib

1

1 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology,

Chittagong- 4349, Bangladesh.

* Corresponding Author, <[email protected]>

ABSTRACT

Solid waste management becomes a great problem now-a-days. Rapidly growing population is

responsible for producing large amount of solid wastes. To develop an efficient solid waste

management system the existing scenario of solid waste of a city should be known which enables to

find out the problems happening regarding mismanagement of solid waste within the city. Cox’s

Bazar is a well-known tourist spot both in home & abroad. As a tourist spot different types of solid

wastes produced everyday by the people living in the city as well as the people coming to visit it. Low

collection coverage, unavailable transport services, and lack of suitable treatment, recycling and

disposal facilities are responsible for unsatisfactory waste management, leading to water, land and air

pollution, and for putting people and the environment at risk. In such a circumstance this study has

intended to unfold the institutional dimensions of solid waste management including the types &

amount of wastes produced in this city and to identify solid waste management problems. A field

survey has conducted to identify the current scenario of solid waste management system in Cox’s

Bazar. It helps to identify the problems regarding solid waste management system which helps in this

study to give some recommendations to improve the solid waste management system of Cox’s Bazar.

Keywords: Solid waste management, Cox’s Bazar Pourashava (CP), Institutional dimension,

integration, community development

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The growth in municipal solid waste generation the world over as a consequence of urbanization,

industrialization, and population growth, together with improved living standards has been widely

reported (Rao et al., 2007). Municipal solid waste has also been recognized as one of the major

problems confronting governments and city planners the world over (Rahman, 2000). It is estimated

that Bangladesh averagely generates 13,332.89 ton waste per day including average per capita urban

waste generation rate is estimated as 0.41 kg/capita/day. Solid waste management (SWM) today is

considered to be one of the most immediate and serious problems of environment, confronting urban

local government in developing countries. Cox’s Bazar is one of the most-visited tourist spot in

Bangladesh. The significance of the city is increasing day by day for its tourism, which help to the

overall development of Bangladesh. The growth in population, urbanization, industrialization, and

waste generation in the developing countries calls for proper solid waste management as it has

become a necessity for environmental conservation (Rao et al., 2007) and Sustainability. For a

sustainable solid waste management system policies and techniques such as waste recycling, reuse,

waste reduction, thermal treatment, land filling etc. must be in place. As Cox’s Bazar is one of the

main tourist spot of Bangladesh, it is necessary to take actions to make a sustainable solid waste

management system for Cox’s Bazar. The findings suggest that the solid waste hazard is mainly a

function of Socio-economic vulnerability that should be overcome through taking some initiatives. As

such, there is a need for integration of solid waste management activities with community

development. It has also identified that the planning and implementation of community development


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and solid waste management activities should be done at the grassroots level with the provision for

direct participation of the people concerned.

Goals and Objectives

Waste generation is not a natural phenomenon rather generating solid waste depends mostly on

human activities. Huge generated wastes has become a struggling matter to manage. The total

environment of the study area is degraded due to ill or unscientific management of solid waste. Cox’s

Bazar is the main tourist spot of Bangladesh and many foreign tourists come to visit the city, it is,

therefore, highly desirable to study solid waste management system of Cox’s Bazar for better

planning and management of solid wastes. The main objectives of the study are to view the types and

current amount of wastes generated in the city and to identify the existing solid waste management

problems of Cox’s Bazar Pourashava (CP).

STUDY AREA

Cox’s Bazar Pourashava has taken as the study area which covers an area of 32.72 sq. km with 27

mahallas and 9 wards. The Pourashava falls under the category of ‘A’ class. The Pourashava is

located at 21°35′0″N 92°01′0″E and bounded by Bakkhali River on the north and East, Bay of Bengal

in the West, and Jhilwanj Union in the south. The existing landfill site is at Kasturighat and the

proposed is at Khurushkul Union near airport area and sea beach which shown in fig. 1

Fig. 1. Study area map

METHODOLOGY

A proper methodology is always necessary for any research, which helps to organize experiences,

observations, examinations, analysis of data and information and their logical expression in a

systematic process to achieve the ultimate goals and objectives of the research. The methodology

adapted in this study is a combination of empirical and case study method. To conduct this research,

the study followed sampling and observation techniques. At first, to make the clear concept about the

frame work of the study and get the overall information about the study area, a reconnaissance survey

was conducted. The questionnaire was pre-tested in the field and necessary modification was done

before finalizing. Valuable primary information regarding the selected case is gathered from key

informants, executives & beneficiaries. Besides this direct observation field visit was done to get a

clear picture of various aspects of the study relevant to social management. It helps to observe the

actual situation and to know people's opinion about the solid waste management. Most of the people

in that community have found cooperative in answering the question. The description and


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unstructured materials from interviews had been arranged in a sequential order. The collected data

both from primary and secondary sources were analyzed properly using standard statistical tools to

explore the hidden dimensions behind the findings.

EXISTING SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SCENARIO

Organogram of Conservancy Department

The organogram of Cox’s Bazar Pourashava is shown in fig. 2

Fig. 2: Organogram of Conservancy Department of Cox’s Bazar Pourashava

Manpower of Conservancy Department

At present there are 157 workers and about 4 officials are engaged by conservancy department (CP)

for collection and disposal of refuse. The conservancy department has not enough manpower for street

sweeping, drain cleaning, garbage collection and disposal. Still the ratio of workers are about 1:372

Considering the population of 51918(BBS, 2001) which is low as compared to the minimum

requirement of 4 - 5 workers per thousand populations for satisfactory manual collection and disposal

of garbage (Alamgir, 2007).

Financial Aspects of Cox’s Bazar Pourashava

The Revenue and accounts sections look after the financial matters of CP. Revenue section is

responsible for the assessment and collection of local taxes, charges, rents and license fees is headed

by Cheap Revenue officer and the accounts section responsible for budgeting, accounting and

payments is headed by Chief Accounts Officer. The responsibility for overall financial management

of CP shared function between the Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Accounts Officer and Audit sections.

The sources of revenue of CP can be divided into three groups – 1st internally based revenue, 2

nd the

government grants and 3rd

loans & advances. The present financial outlay of CP with regard to solid

waste management is quite inadequate and there is an urgent need to improve this situation. Only

about 7% of total budget is used for conservancy purpose for CP.

Waste Collection

Cox’s Bazar Pourashava has a collection area of 32 sq. kilometres with a total number of conservancy

staff of about 189. A fleet of 4 trucks with an average payload of 6 tons, 24 vans are engaged in

garbage disposal. The reported frequency of garbage collection is once a day. Duration of waste

collection is 8 AM to 2 PM.

Conservancy Officer

Assistant Conservancy

Officer


Officer


Officer

Conservancy Supervisor

Truck Driver Drain Labor Sweeper


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Solid Waste Disposal Site

The present garbage disposal site is at Kasturighat, consists of an area of 1 acres. The wastes are

dumped on to open land. Either a natural of artificial barrier such as ridge of ground or a belt of trees

does not screen the site from view. Levelling and compacting the dumped wastes without following

any standard specification. No soil cover is provided between the waste layers. Uncontrolled dumping

of solid wastes at Kasturighat severely affects both surface waters and ground water of the area.

Proposed dumping ground of CP has in the same site with the area of 3 acres.

Case Study on Solid Waste Management of Slum Area

Table 1: Comparison between this two slums of their solid waste management system

Criteria of Comparison North Baharsora Slum Jhawtala Slum

Household and

Population

About 150 household and population is

500

About 50 household and population is

200

Waste Generation Around 140 kg per day Around 50 kg per day

Waste Management

System

None Communal dustbin system

Drainage Facility There is no drainage facility There is poor drainage facility

Source: field survey, 2013

Case Study on Solid Waste Management in Residential Area

Table 2: Comparison among residential solid waste management system

Criteria Case Study-1 Case Study- 2 Case Study- 3

Para/ Mahalla Name Suja Soudagor Para Baharsora Majher Ghat

Ward no 4 11 4

Dustbin Facility No dustbin facility No dustbin facility No dustbin facility

Waste Generation Per

Household

About 0.5kg About 0.5kg About 1kg

Waste Collection System None Communal collection Curb side collection

Waste Management

Organization

None Pourashava Pourashava

Collection Procedure No collection By Van By Pick up

Waste Gathering Way Waste is thrown directly

to the drain

Waste gather in waste

box

Waste gather in the road

side

Drain Management

System

Poor (every month) Good (per 2 days) Good (per 15 days)

Payment per month No payment 30 tk per household No payment

Source: field survey, 2013

RECOMMENDATIONS

Base on the existing situation the following recommendations are provided for better solid waste

management.


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CP should established its accountability in this respect and should allocate more funds for providing

more dustbins and appoint more waste conservancy stuffs.

NGO’s should also extend their programs in solid waste management in other parts of the city.

CP should develop a standard for dustbin for waste collection with the context of area, location and

population size.

Most of the staffs of conservancy department of CP are not highly educated and also have no idea

about waste management. CP should provide proper training about waste management to the stuffs.

For long benefits awareness program should be taken.

Active participation of community is essential for proper waste management. Active participation can

be ensured with the involvement of community based organization for waste management.

With the present level of conservancy stuffs and finance, it is very difficult for CP to improve solid

waste management system. So house to house collection system by NGO’s should be promoted.

Modern motorized vehicles and technological methods may be used by CP to improve the

environmental quality of the whole city.

To improve the waste disposal system it is possible to use sanitary land filling method because it is

low in operating cost and easy to operate and also less chance of water pollution.

Illegal road side dumping should be discouraged

Some treatment and recycling plants are to establish in the periphery area of the city. Government

should create interest among the people about the business option from the solid waste recycling.

CONCLUSION

Community based management is an arising issue for sustainable solid waste management. City

corporation have no proper solid waste management system especially in the conservancy department

the manpower is not available for waste collection, transportation and final disposal of waste. The

urban population is increasing day by day tremendously. For this reason private organization started

solid waste management program by the community participation with the help of city corporation.

The image of Cox-Bazar city is much depends on the proper management of the generated waste.

Pourashava authority is the concern authorities for solid waste management of its residence.

According to the respondents of the study area it can be conclude that the present system of

community based solid waste management of the study area is satisfactory. So, it is proved that with

the help of government organization, non-government authorities and community participation can

take proper steps to establish solid waste management system which can develop outstanding

aesthetic beauty and glorious image for the study area (CP) and at the same time will upgrade the

living standard of the people of the city.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We express our profound and deep gratitude and indebtedness to our teacher Mr. Rashidul Hasan,

Assistant professor, A.T.M. Shahjahan, Khatun-E-Zannat and Mr. Robiul Islam, Lecturer, BURP,

CUET for their cordial encouragement, constant guidance, inspiration and valuable suggestion to

prepare this report. We owe much to Mr. Debasish Roy Raja, Assistant Professor, BURP, CUET. Our

homage is also due to Ms. Ishrat Jahan, Assistant Professor, BURP, CUET.

REFERENCE

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Solid Waste Management System: A Study on Cox-Bazar Pourashava

Education

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