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Options for waste management
Where formal waste management systems do not exist, small
and remote communities need to have community-based local
strategies to deal with waste effectively. The treatment of organic
waste – which makes up a large proportion of waste generated
in these communities – can lead to significant reduction in
waste volumes.
However, typical waste management solutions, such as sanitary
landfills and mechanical biological treatment plants, are often
not viable due to the topography of mountain regions and the
economic constraints – the levels of funding and the volumes of
waste generated are not large enough to warrant such facilities.
Transportation costs are prohibitively high and the resources to
construct and maintain modern treatment plants are not available.
In such cases, innovative micro-level biocomposting in shallow
pits could be a feasible method for treating the organic waste,
thereby reducing waste volumes and helping to alleviate the
environmental pollution caused by the improper management of
waste in remote regions (Li et al., 2011; Kuniyal, 2005b).
Depending on weather conditions, composting can be carried
out either in pits outside or under a roof. In dry regions, the
compost must be adequately moistened and in wet regions it has
to be protected from too much moisture, particularly during the
monsoon/rainy season. Depending on the quality of the compost
generated from this process, it could either be left in the pits or be
used locally for farming. However, at very high altitudes, extreme
temperatures, and a lack of oxygen and atmospheric pressure
limit the effectiveness of traditional composting methods.
With the growing influx of tourists into mountain regions the
composition of waste in many remote regions is changing and
the proportion of plastics, glass, metal and e-waste is increasing.
This non-biodegradable waste can remain in the environment
for a very long time and poses substantial risks, especially when
improperly disposed of or burned, causing air and water pollution
(UNEP, 2007; Kuniyal, 2005a).
Raising community awareness of the economic value of non-
biodegradable waste and promoting behavioural change would
help develop effective waste management and prevent the build-
up of materials on mountain slopes. According to Byers (2014),
“programmes that build awareness, provide training and test
incentives for lodge owners to recycle and/or remove solid waste
from the high-altitude environment … are urgently needed”. Such
incentives include placing an economic value on recyclables –
for example, paying a deposit on containers would encourage
consumers to recycle them and get some money back after use.
Micromaterial collection centres and reuse and recycle facilities
could be set up to collect and treat appropriate volumes of waste
at source before transporting and selling the collected material
to a material recycling facility in a larger settlement. This could
generate employment and income for the local community,
while at the same time eliminating waste from accumulating in
the environment.
Local solutions for a global problem
While SWM is a global problem, specific local waste
management strategies are needed to effectively meet
this universal challenge. Waste management strategies
and policy instruments that are not based on a profound
understanding of local conditions are bound to fail. This
is illustrated by instances from both the developing and
developed world of well-meaning governments and
organizations adopting waste management solutions
that ended in failure and significant economic loss
because crucial local conditions or specificities were
overlooked. For example, in the city of Lucknow in India,
a costly anaerobic digestion plant (USD 15 million) had
to be shut down because of a lack of ‘acceptable’ organic
waste (Rodic, 2015c).
Despite the odds, some communities in remote
mountain regions have succeeded in putting in place
effective modern SWM systems. The key to their success
is the reliance on technologies and equipment adapted
for local use. The case of the remote city of Ghorahi
in Nepal, illustrates how much can be achieved with
limited local resources, provided careful and intelligent
planning is used. Ghorahi has a well-managed plant
that includes facilities for waste sorting and recycling;
a sanitary landfill that is buffered from the surrounding
area by forests, gardens and a bee farm; and a leachate
collection and treatment centre (Scheinberg, Wilson
and Rodic-Wiersma, 2010). The main reason for the
success of waste governance in Ghorahi was a “clear
vision and strong determination”, which enabled the
municipality to “use a small initial investment from
the municipality budget to mobilize national financial
support and to bring the site into operation within five
years”. Another factor contributing to their success was a
“strong landfill management committee involving local
people and key stakeholders to ensure that the site is
properly managed and monitored” (Scheinberg, Wilson
and Rodic-Wiersma, 2010).