Waste Management Outlook for Mountain Regions

Options for waste management

Local solutions for a global problem

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. 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). 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).

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