Cooperative environmental governance in urban South Asia: implications for municipal waste management and waste-to-energy

Abstract

This paper critically discusses the importance of cooperative environmental governance (CEG) for efficient waste management and waste-to-energy (WtE) generation in the context of growing urban South Asia. Focusing on Bangladesh, India and Pakistan experiences, the paper reveals that even though much progress has been done in the urbanisation in the selected countries, the process of waste management (mainly municipal solid waste) has not been effective due to low level of local inclusion. As a result, the WtE generation potential has not been realised to its fullest. In addition, it has been argued that institutional and social reforms are extremely important for strengthening the CEG, and it will eventually lead to effective and optimal WtE generation in the urban cities of the selected South Asian countries for green transition and urban sustainability. Finally, an integrated solid waste management framework has been formulated for policy implications in South Asia.