Garbage - Rubbish to Revenue.

By: ira

On June 10, 2009 WNN uploaded foto gossip with a theme “Me, My Garbage, My Kathmandu.” In that gossip WNN team has said, Every other couple of months or so, we see the garbage piling up on the streets of Kathmandu. That’s true and as well garbage has become our pride and identity. If proper work is done in managing garbage then our rubbish may turn into revenue. The only thing we need is being responsible, planning and implementing.

If things are well planned and implemented correctly, then may be we will be able to solve this never ending issue of garbage in Nepal and as well generate revenue from rubbish. Along with it, we can create employment opportunities and can be sure that the trucks heading to dispose the garbage in the landfill site will not be blocked.

Methane, a gas whose greenhouse effect is 21 times worse than carbon dioxide is produced from the municipal waste, dumped in landfill site. Methane forms in landfill when organic waste decomposes in the absence of oxygen. Methane is usually extracted by sinking pipes or wells into the landfill and sucking the gas out. The gas can be produced for more than ten years, even if the landfill is closed.

Many developed countries are reusing the waste by running waste-to-energy projects. They are generating revenue from the rubbish. They have invested funds, latest technologies, manpower and in turn generating energy which results to revenue collection. In the United States, technology to produce electricity from waste has existed since the 1970. It may take us years to produce electricity from waste, but if planned properly we can run some of the simple waste-to-energy projects. We can install a system in landfills that collects the methane gas so that it can be used as a fuel source. If nothing is possible than we can follow the incineration process. Incineration is a waste treatment technology that involves the combustion of organic materials and/or substances.

In context to Nepal, waste-to-energy projects from landfills or garbage incinerators will make sense only if a waste infrastructure is installed and it’s proper maintenance is prioritised.

If only we could establish a waste-to-energy project in the landfill site, then the locals will start to judge it differently and it will be sure that they will be cooperative and let us dump the rubbish in their backyard. It will be wise if the authority responsible for garbage management start planning the waste-to-energy projects and convince the locals.

It is also a duty of the government to educate public on handling the household garbage. They can provide information relating reusing, recycling and proper disposable of household garbage through media. Nothing is impossible. The only thing is dedication, willingness and cooperation. And it may be best to include ‘Waste Management’ education in school levels.

We all dream for clean, green and beautiful Kathmandu, as well generating revenue from rubbish so that we will not be sorry on producing wastes.

Some of the links, on which this article is based, and which have described in detail about generating energy from garbages and also reducing household garbages which are worthy reading are:

• Clean fuel from dirty garbage?
• Making the best of garbage gas
• Generate Power from Garbage
• WHITE PAPER ON THE DOMESTIC GARBAGE DISPOSAL IN BEIJING
• Waste-To-Energy Projects
• How Green is Your Trash?
• How to Reduce Your Household Garbage
• The Dangers Of Household Garbage
• Proper disposal of domestic garbage.
• Qualitative assessment of methane emission inventory from municipal solid waste disposal sites: a case study