The importance of Solid Waste Management (SWM) for Sustainable Development (SD)

The importance of Solid Waste Management (SWM) for Sustainable

Development (SD)A study of Solid Waste Management for Sound

Environmental Development (SED) in Hambantota Municipal Council, Sri Lanka.

Asiri D Vitharana, UIA-DM, TU-CPDS, Sri Lanka

[email protected]

Asiri D Vitharana - [email protected]

Content • Introduction• Literature Review • Objectives• Methodology• Research Findings• Challenges for Hambantota Municipal

Council• Recommendation• Conclusion


Introduction• Sustainable development (SD) / Sound

Environmental Development (SED) has become a catch phrase in global development agendas.

• Development and environmental practitioners see Solid Waste Management (SWM) as a compulsory towards Sound Environmental Development (SED).

• This study explores the importance of SWM for SD in Hambantota Municipal Council (HMC) in Sri Lanka.


Literature Review• Development practitioners have focused on sustainable

development (SD) as an environmental concept (Carter, 2001).

• The process of unbalanced development has its price in the form of an increased pressure on natural resources through inefficient and wasteful utilization (Anand,2010, p.3) .

• Solid Waste Management (SWM) is an essential task which has important consequences for sustainability of the urban environment and the efficiency (Schübeler, 1996, p.15).

• Today the Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is endangered and environmental degradation has increased due to unmanaged development and economic growth (Gunawardhana, 2005, p. 135).


• To study the characteristics of solid waste management practices in

HMC.

• To investigate the environmental impacts of solid waste management

practices in HMC.

• To assess how improved waste management practices can contribute

to sustain the development processes in Hambantota District.

• To establish an understanding of the perception among local

communities about solid waste management for sound environmental

development

Objectives : To explore the impacts of solid waste management on sustainable development in the Hambantota Municipal council, Sri Lanka.


Study Area


Methodolody : Instruments :

Semi structured interview, self completion questionnaire, focus group discussions & non participation observation

Sampling : • Random sampling : 69 households and 59 business

population for SCQ, within 5852 households and 412 business places with expected errors 0.12% ( )

• Purposive sampling : participants for the interviews and focus groups and self observation areas.

Analysis :• Thematic analysis approach (SPSS)

Mixed Method


Research Findings1. The characteristics of SWM practices :

Waste generation

10%16%

22%

4%3%6%

21%

12%6%

House holds

39%

29%

20%

3%5%3%2%

Business Places

Paper and Carton

Plastics (bags/bot -tles)

Food waste

Tins/cans

Fiber bags

Glass

Tree Leaves

Coconut Shells

Charks


The place of primary waste disposal

19%1%

16%

30%

33%

HH

8%

49%14%

12%17%

BP

In the public bin

waste collectors tractor

By the lake side,river or other water bodies

By the road or street side

On an open space

In a hole in own compound

Availability of public waste bins

4%

96%

HH

17%

83%BP

Yes No


Final disposal practicesland filling or land spreading


2. The environmental impacts of SWM practices

86%

14%

House Holds

58%

42%

Business Places

YesNo

70%

30%

58%

42%

36%

64%57%

43%

waste on land

waste on Water

Burning waste


Review of Public Perception

Satisfy with SWM process

25%

75%

44%56%

Yes

No

Business PlacesHouseholds

75%

6%19%

78%

17%5%

Yes

No

Don't Know

Environmental issues could be minimized if solid waste is managed properly

If the SW is major issue affecting environment

41%

28%

32%41%

22%

37%


Agree that the new development process has impact on solid waste generation in the area

57%16%

28%47%

41%

12% Yes

No

Don't Know

Solid waste management has impact on sustainable development

42%

12%

46%

House Holds

32%

3%64%

Business Places

Yes

No

Don't Know


3. SWM and challenges for SDDevelopment Process

SW generation

Lack of Proper Waste Management

Challenge the existence of Natural environment and Eco

System

• Lack of Proper SWM practices has significant affected the natural environment and finally the Sound Environmental Development (SED) in HMC

Will the Development be sustainable?


Challenges for SWM in HMC• The lack of waste separation and recycling practices,• The absence of sanitary land filling and inadequate

processes by Hambantota Integrated Solid Waste Management Centre.

• The absence of practical usage of regulation and laws • Lack of awareness , Information and education• Lack of resources at local levels to manage waste• Lack of technical knowledge and weak and slow financial

resources mobilization• Lack of synergy between community and officials


Recommendations• The well formed solid waste management is the only way to

reduce the impact of MSW on the environment and finally SD. • Prioritize waste avoidance with recycling and improve other

forms of environmentally sound disposal practices (home based composting)

• Actively involve community and all institutions for environmentally sound solid waste management practices

• Improve the awareness and education about SWM and its impacts

• Reaching the community effectively with information regarding importance of SD and SWM

• Include SWM policies in to development Project


Conclusion • SWM is the backbone of Sustainable Development • The inadequate SWM has caused significant challenges for

Sound Environmental Development (SED) in HMC• Proper waste management process is a necessity to sustain the

development process.• The strength of this research study

– is the case study’s setting which is the newly developed area, HMC, Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

– The study incorporates the views of the HMC community to explore their level of understanding of Solid Waste Management, environmental and sustainable development.

– This is strength because community views have been largely examined with the research.


Thank You!Asiri D Vitharana

UIA – DM, TU-CPDSSri Lanka

[email protected]

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The importance of Solid Waste Management (SWM) for Sustainable Development (SD)