Scientists and experts taking part in an international conference in Kathmandu have said community participation is a must for effective and sustainable solid waste management.

Sharing his experience at the international conference on “For a better tomorrow: Sustainable solid waste management in developing countries” in Kathmandu on Wednesday, former general manager of the Solid Waste Management and Resource Management Center (SWMRMC), Surya Man Shakya, said it took a whole decade to find out a suitable landfill site to dispose off solid waste generated in Kathmandu metropolis.

He said Okharpouwa landfill site came into operation from June last year only after local communities were involved in the process.

According to an estimate, around 350 tonnes of solid waste is generated every day in the Kathmandu Metropolis (KMC). Sisdole area at Okharpouwa has the capacity of absorbing up to 333 tonnes of solid waste every day, according to KMC.

Shakya further said besides participation of local communities, institutional and legal issues and financial commitment and transparency were equally important.

Vice chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Shanker Sharma, said development of infrastructure and involving all the stakeholders was crucial in the solid waste management. “Involving local communities in the management of solid waste themselves has helped. We need to do a lot,” he added. Dr. Sharma said, “We also need support from developing countries as well in the area of solid waste management.”

President of the organizing committee and vice chairman of Kathmandu University, Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, said rapid urbanization and change in living style was making solid waste disposal more problematic and serious. He said careless disposal of solid waste was becoming a concern for the society. In the less developed society, policies and laws are formulated, but they are not implemented seriously.

Over 250 delegates are taking part in the conference being organised jointly by KU and Development Network Pvt. Ltd, in association with two Swedish organisations, International Foundation for Science (IFS) and Kalmar University and LAQUA group.

Developing countries, including Nepal, are facing severe inadequacy in solid waste management, which is obvious due to limited resources, institutional and infrastructure incapacities and technical know how. Improper separation, collection and management of solid waste along with conflicts on sanitary landfill sites prove to be pressing issues.

The Conference has brought together technicians, academicians, private sectors, local authorities, community leaders and policy makers to discuss workable solutions to issues of the solid waste management, according to the organizers.

Scientists and experts from Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines, South America, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and Vietnam are also taking part in the conference.

Vice chairman of NPC, Dr. Sharma also inaugurated an exhibition on environmental technology, products and processes at the premises of Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza, where the conference is taking place.