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Solid waste management practices and challenges in Besisahar municipality, Nepal

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  • Mahendra Aryal
  • Sanju Adhikary

Abstract

This study is a comprehensive assessment of the waste management system in Besisahar municipality. Information and some data have been collected from the municipality of Besisahar, followed by interviews with municipal officials responsible for waste management, stakeholders, waste workers, and residents. A total of 230 households, 20 schools, 10 government and private offices, 10 financial institutions, 60 commercial hotels, restaurants, and shops, and 20 medical shops and healthcare institutions, were selected in this study by random sampling. An extensive field study was conducted within all municipal wards and at dump sites. The results indicated that 42.14% of solid waste was collected through door-to-door collection services, 5.87% was mismanaged in open public places, 11.21% was used as compost manure, and the rest was discarded on riverbanks, dug up, and burned. A large component of the characterization of household waste consisted of organic waste (68.03%), followed by paper/paper products (8.13%), agricultural waste (5.5%), plastic (5.21%), construction (3.81%), textile (2.72%), metals (0.54%), glass (1.01%), rubber (0.10%), electronic (0.05%), pharmaceutical (0.1%) and others (4.78%) in the Besishahar municipality. Solid waste generation was found to be at 197.604 g/capita/day, as revealed by cluster sampling in 230 households. Around 4.285 tons-solid waste/day were generated in urban areas, while 16.13 tons-solid waste/day was estimated for the whole municipality. An important correlation between the parameters of solid waste was found by statistical analysis. Currently, solid waste is dumped on riverbanks, open fields, and springs, creating environmental and health hazards. The findings of this study will be useful to Besisahar municipality and its stakeholders in forming policies that facilitate waste management practices in this region and promote sustainable waste management systems.

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  • Mahendra Aryal & Sanju Adhikary, 2024. "Solid waste management practices and challenges in Besisahar municipality, Nepal," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(3), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0292758
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292758
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Asian Development Bank (ADB), 2013. "Solid Waste Management in Nepal: Current Status and Policy Recommendations," ADB Reports RPT135798, Asian Development Bank (ADB), revised 16 Dec 2013.
    2. Ljiljana Rodić & David C. Wilson, 2017. "Resolving Governance Issues to Achieve Priority Sustainable Development Goals Related to Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Mahendra Aryal & Sanju Adhikary & Vinayak Aryal & Rameshwor Adhikari, 2019. "An Analysis of Solid Waste Management Practices in Lamjung District Community Hospital, Nepal," Journal of Wastes and Biomass Management (JWBM), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 1(2), pages 09-13, December.
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    5. Pathak, Pankaj & Srivastava, Rajiv Ranjan & Ojasvi,, 2017. "Assessment of legislation and practices for the sustainable management of waste electrical and electronic equipment in India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 220-232.
    6. Ismaila Rimi Abubakar & Khandoker M. Maniruzzaman & Umar Lawal Dano & Faez S. AlShihri & Maher S. AlShammari & Sayed Mohammed S. Ahmed & Wadee Ahmed Ghanem Al-Gehlani & Tareq I. Alrawaf, 2022. "Environmental Sustainability Impacts of Solid Waste Management Practices in the Global South," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-26, October.
    7. Salma Taqi Ghulam & Hatem Abushammala, 2023. "Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Electronic Waste and Its Impact on Human Health and Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-22, January.
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    1. Patranit Srijuntrapun & Issavara Sirirungruang, 2024. "Factors influencing the behavior and challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in waste separation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, December.

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