CRITIQUE PAPER: A Study on Solid Waste Management System of Dhaka City Corporation 1

A STUDY ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

OF DHAKA CITY CORPORATION: EFFECTS OF

COMPOSTING AND LANDFILL LOCATION

Hazlyn Pablo

Sonia Mae Pudao

Maria Cecilda Kimpalong

Janet Mateo
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INTRODUCTION

In their 2005 article in the University of Wollongong, “A Study on Solid Waste

Management System of Dhaka City Corporation: Effect of Composting and Landfill Location”,

authors Faisal Ibney Hai and M. Ashraf Ali looks in briefly at the current generation,

characteristics and management scenario in Dhaka City.

The main objectives of the study are:

a. Analysis of solid generation trends and rates, and compilation of available data or

characteristic of solid waste generated in Dhaka City.

b. An evaluation of the existing solid waste management system of Dhaka City Corporation; and

c. Assessment of impacts related to final disposal of solid waste, with special focus on the effect

of composting on land requirement and landfill gas generation, along with the effect of landfill

location on transportation cost.

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SUMMARY

The study on this journal article is a one-way of preparation of the Dhaka Community

from the future growth of the population, and so as waste. This was done due to the serious

environmental degradation and public-health risk caused by the uncollected disposal of waste on

streets and other public areas, clogged drainage system and by the contamination of water. This

is because solid waste disposal poses a greater problem that leads to land pollution if openly

dumped, water pollution if dumped in low lands and air pollution if burnt.

The researcher used some data, secondary sources, in analyzing the study. USEPA’S

Landfill Gas Emission model (LandGEM, version 2.01) was also used to estimate methane

generation rate at landfill.

According to the analyzed data of total waste generation by source, there are 3500ton/day

in solid waste. The Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (1998) calculated that the

compound growth rate of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is 2.74% and estimated a population of

4.64M. In contrast, DDC reported a population of 7M which is 1.5 times higher than the

estimated population by BCAS. This results a close prediction to the estimated value (ton/day)

by the BCAS. With this outcome, it was then estimated that the waste generation by year 2020 is

30000 ton/day.

A number of studies have been conducted in determining the composition of solid waste

in the city. As observed in the studies, most of residential solid waste were came from the food

waste. According to the Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD), the solid waste

with high organic and high moisture content, which is 80% and 50-70% by weight respectively,

has the biggest weight among all of the other waste. The process of recycling, reclamation and
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reusing, which was practiced in Bangladesh, has to be the one way of subsiding the number of

ton/day of solid waste.

In the land requirement for landfilling solid waste, the estimate of future requirement for

land area is based on the estimated future waste generation. From the estimated waste value of

30000ton/day, the land area was then calculated assuming that the dumping depth is 6m. With

the collection of efficiency of 50% to 75%, the dumping area would be 206.31 acre to 309.46

acre. On the other hand, land requirements with composting of 40-80% of the organic wastes

ranges from 167.11 acres/yr. to 96.97 acres/yr., while without any composting will be

206.31acres/yr. Methane is produced from the anaerobic decomposition of the solid waste

components at landfills. The greenhouse gas methane generation would be as low as half of that

for without any composting.

With the available data in Zone Wise Estimated Average Waste Transportation Cost, it

was presented that the greater the round-trip distance the higher would transportation cost be. As

a whole, the calculation for the probable cost of transportation increases compared to the present.
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EVALUATION

There are some statements that we strongly agree with. First, when they stated that “the

households, commercial and industrial wastes are deposited from the source to the collection

bins located in the streets”, because it is true that “where there are no bins, waste is simply

dumped on the ground”. Second, the statement “recycling and reclamation of waste are now

strongly promoted for conservation of resources and prevention of environmental degradation”;

this is one of the ways to decrease the number of solid waste generation.

On the other hand, there are also a statement wherein we think is not strong enough. First,

when they estimated the number of ton/day in the year 2020. The calculation of BCAS (1998)

might not be coincident with the result of 3500 ton/day in DCC (1999), however 8.6 times the

current solid waste generation is far from reality.

Nevertheless, the researchers managed to attain the purpose of this journal article.
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RESPONSE

“Recycling and reclamation of waste are now strongly promoted for conservation of

resources and prevention of environmental degradation”, the researchers said. It should not just

be recycling and reusing, but we should also reduce everything we use. Because as what

Catherine Pulsifer quoted, “Most of us are familiar with recycle and reusing, but how often do

we think of the third R- REDUCE? ‘Reduce’ is probably the most important of the three R’s

because if we reduced, it would limit the need to recycle and reuse.” [2]

CONCLUSION

“Just as we cannot blame others for destroying the environment, so we cannot look to

others to protect the environment. Responsibility for both begins at home.” [2]

−Paul Griss, The Daily Planet

Yes you (or the government) might do something about the solid wastes, but if we don’t

practice the good deeds on ourselves then there’s no possibility that change is going to happen.

Because no matter how many bins were provided and are available on the street, if we don’t have

the discipline, nothing’s going to happen. “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of

discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.” [3] −Jim Rohn

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REFERENCE

[1] http://ro.uow.edu.au/scipapers/677

[2] http://www.stresslesscountry.com/page3.html

[3] https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/discipline