Solid waste management practice in Karachi through GIS techniques

Ambreen Afzal

doi:10.19045/bspab.2021.100132

Abstract

The extreme development of cities and subsequent enlarge in an urban population in recent years has led to a considerable enhance in consumptions and generations of solid waste material in the developing countries. The gradually rising population has led to several solid and hazardous waste issues in the megacity Karachi, due to unsatisfactory policies, laws, political instability, and poor municipal administration. The main purpose of this research work was to assess the issue of population density, waste generation, collection, transportation, and management of municipal solid waste through GIS techniques. The obtained results revealed that rising population density and improper collection of municipal solid waste from collections points had a negative impact on the total volume of waste generation. The open burning and disposal methods were very common to treat the municipal solid waste agenda. The collection of MSW from bins and transportation to a landfill site by vehicles was not accordingly in the city. No transfer station was buildup for the temporary deposition of MSW for further processing for recycling purpose. The private sector was involved in the recycling of MSW on a small scale and paying to afghan waste pickers to collect waste from located bins to dumping site. The workers were proliferating the waste around the bins and on the roads, due to lack of proper training. Overall, the present study indicated that the new advanced eco-friendly technologies viz., modified-composting, smart biochar, plastic tile, plastic roads, energy recovery etc., are urgent needed to manage MSW problems and minimize health issues and environmental degradation. Keywords: Collection; GIS techniques; Municipal; Population density; Solid waste; Transportation; Waste generation http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2021.100132

Highlights

The extreme development of cities and subsequent enlarge in an urban population in recent years has led to a considerable enhance in consumptions and generations of solid waste material in the developing countries
This study has highlighted the issues faces municipal solid waste system in a multicultural city, assessment has been done through geographic information system (GIS) Techniques statistical analysis of two variables have done, a positive correlation has found between population and waste generated rate per day, qualitative assessment of means of transportation of solid waste included and identified the types of vehicles with the help of pictures and explains their capacity which is very beneficial for policymakers and researchers to reduce the waste pileup by making proper strategy
Research work was carried about the possibility of energy generation from municipal solid waste (MSW) in Pakistan Korai et al [25], predictable that the hypothetical biogas potential for MSW generated in the megacity Karachi by using elemental analysis

Summary

Introduction

The extreme development of cities and subsequent enlarge in an urban population in recent years has led to a considerable enhance in consumptions and generations of solid waste material in the developing countries. The main purpose of this research work was to assess the issue of population density, waste generation, collection, transportation, and management of municipal solid waste through GIS techniques. The multicultural megacity Karachi has been population has been rapidly increasing day considered 2nd largest Muslim city around the by day and possessing several solid and globe and facing various environmental hazardous waste issues in the megacity, due issues including municipal solid waste to lack of awareness, training, budget, management is an important issue, due to an corruption, and poor municipal increase in population density [1, administration [3, 4]. In light of the existing work, this research work aimed to assess the population density, municipal solid waste generation rate, collection, transportation, and disposal of MSW through GIS techniques in the megacity Karachi.

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion