A recent study by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has concluded that the capital’s waste management service has been able to collect only 51% of the wastes produced per day for proper disposal.
Dhaka city generates approximately 3,500 tons wastes per day from residential, commercial and institutional Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), while in the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) area, that is Dhaka city along with portions of Narayanganj, Gazipur, Keraniganj and Savar, generates approximately 7,000 tons wastes per day, said the study.
The findings also concluded that around 1,800 tons of MSW, that is 51% of total wastes produced per day, are collected for disposal at two landfills at Matuil and Amin Bazar respectively of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
Moreover, 11% of the wastes (about 400 tons) are dumped on the roadside or in open spaces, 26% dumped in backyards and landfills, 9% recycled by rag pickers and 3% recycled at generation point.
The survey also observed that biodegradable organic matter constitutes more than 60% of the wastes produced in the capital.
The study, “Regional Development Planning (RDP),” was conducted by a joint venture of Korean companies Saman Corporation and Han-A Urban Research Institute and local companies Dev Consultants Ltd and Sheltech Ltd, for updating Rajuk’s database for the RDP.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the capital’s two city corporations rejected Rajuk’s findings and termed the study as incorrect. They also blamed Rajuk for the capital’s unplanned urbanisation that has reportedly caused the waste management crisis.
DSCC Chief Waste Management Officer Captain SM Javed Iqbal told the Dhaka Tribune: “The survey report does not reflect the reality. The DSCC collects around 2,000 tons wastes per day and dumps it at the Matuil landfill, while the DNCC’s collects around 1,500 tons per day.”
“So, the Rajuk study is not appropriate and acceptable,” he added.
Javed also said few wastes remain unattended near waste containers, but the amount cannot be 11% of the total wastes produced.
DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Bipan Kumar Saha echoed same views as Javed.
Pointing his finger at Rajuk for the capital’s unplanned urbanisation, Bipan added: “Sometimes, we are forced to place waste containers on the roads due to lack of free space.”
On the other hand, Sheikh Abdul Mannan, member (planning) of Rajuk, said: “The RDP survey is being mainly conducted to formulate the new DAP, not for find out anyone fault.”
He also said the survey was run by four private companies- two Korean companies and two Bangladeshi companies -for find out the overall condition all of sectors in the designated area.
“I think the consulting surveyor companies represented the data which they got from field visit and secondary sources,” he added.
The RDP covers an area of 1,528 square kilometres, which includes two Dhaka city corporations, Narayanganj and Gazipur city corporations, 4 municipalities, 72 union parishads in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur.