Like in most of the Third world cities, Karachi's development authorities have also not been able to cope with the enormous population growth. For a city with a rapidly expanding population, the existing waste management capacity is far too inadequate and outmoded and needs to be improved; otherwise the problem of inefficient solid waste management services will continue to haunt those living in urban areas.
In order to improve the existing situation of solid waste management in the city of Karachi in Pakistan, there is a need to develop an effective linkage between the community, the informal sector and local government. One major problem is that the local authorities are reluctant to collect garbage from the low-income settlements. In absence of municipal services for solid waste collection and disposal, low income families have been organizing themselves to collect and dispose solid waste.
Mr. Gill M. Rizwan made a study which major objective was to improve the SWM system in Karachi through enhancing the participation of NGO and CBO. The sub- objectives were to: (1) identify the existing situation regarding current SWMS in Karachi and to evaluate the effectiveness of the role of KMC to overcome these challenges; (2) assess the roles of CBOs & NGOs in SWMS in the study areas and identify the main problems they are facing; and (3) propose the potential solutions and specific recommendations to KMC to solve out these problems and effectively improve the SWMS in Karachi.
Conclusions
Conclusion 1
The survey results showed that the average satisfaction level of the users regarding the performance of the different organizations was very low. However, each socio-economic level had different perceptions about the performance of KMC, CBO and their combined performance. The priority consideration of KMC for SWM was found to be varying as per the income level of an area. Higher socio-economic level group portray high community initiatives as well as high consideration by KMC eventually maintaining a well-managed solid waste management system.
Conclusion 2
Regarding the performance ranking by the management team i.e. by KMC, CBO and NGO, each party of management team ranked them as operating at their best but ranked the other two and their combined performance as less satisfactory. This portrays that each of the party is not satisfied with the performance of the other indicating poor co-ordination and communication. However, after the involvement of private sector the performance of individual teams especially KMC was ranked to be significantly improved.
Conclusion 3
Regarding the existing problems in private sector involvement in solid waste management in overall Karachi area, five major types of problematic areas were enlisted to be ranked by each of the management team. Overall, the most problematic area was the management aspect and then financial aspect. However, the perceptions of each management group about the different problematic area vary except for the management aspect since each of the party realized it as being the most problematic area.
Conclusion 4
The underlying factors for each of the problematic aspects were also ranked.
a. Regarding the factors causing, Low community participation, low willingness to pay was the major factor identified in the survey. The other important factors include low willingness to participate in the cleanliness program and low willingness in keeping areas clean.
b. Inefficient Management was mainly caused due to lack of accountability to the community and low willingness to manage. This clearly shows the lack of proper legislative definition of responsibilities and ineffective controlling and monitoring device.
c. Problems in social operations were mainly caused by low salary of operators and low and bad working condition of workers. Unreliable service and space problems were also identified as the major issues which are the most important factors for a sustainable SWM system.
d. Major financial problem was caused by inadequate fee collection causing cost recovery problems.
e. Lack of co-ordination with municipality was mainly due to lack of assistance to be provided by municipality.
Conclusion 5
Solutions as suggested in open answers from each of the management team were grouped for each of the problematic aspects and listed in Table below as per the majority and priority of the respondents.
In order to improve the existing situation of solid waste management in the city of Karachi in Pakistan, there is a need to develop an effective linkage between the community, the informal sector and local government. One major problem is that the local authorities are reluctant to collect garbage from the low-income settlements. In absence of municipal services for solid waste collection and disposal, low income families have been organizing themselves to collect and dispose solid waste.
Mr. Gill M. Rizwan made a study which major objective was to improve the SWM system in Karachi through enhancing the participation of NGO and CBO. The sub- objectives were to: (1) identify the existing situation regarding current SWMS in Karachi and to evaluate the effectiveness of the role of KMC to overcome these challenges; (2) assess the roles of CBOs & NGOs in SWMS in the study areas and identify the main problems they are facing; and (3) propose the potential solutions and specific recommendations to KMC to solve out these problems and effectively improve the SWMS in Karachi.
Conclusions
Conclusion 1
The survey results showed that the average satisfaction level of the users regarding the performance of the different organizations was very low. However, each socio-economic level had different perceptions about the performance of KMC, CBO and their combined performance. The priority consideration of KMC for SWM was found to be varying as per the income level of an area. Higher socio-economic level group portray high community initiatives as well as high consideration by KMC eventually maintaining a well-managed solid waste management system.
Conclusion 2
Regarding the performance ranking by the management team i.e. by KMC, CBO and NGO, each party of management team ranked them as operating at their best but ranked the other two and their combined performance as less satisfactory. This portrays that each of the party is not satisfied with the performance of the other indicating poor co-ordination and communication. However, after the involvement of private sector the performance of individual teams especially KMC was ranked to be significantly improved.
Conclusion 3
Regarding the existing problems in private sector involvement in solid waste management in overall Karachi area, five major types of problematic areas were enlisted to be ranked by each of the management team. Overall, the most problematic area was the management aspect and then financial aspect. However, the perceptions of each management group about the different problematic area vary except for the management aspect since each of the party realized it as being the most problematic area.
Conclusion 4
The underlying factors for each of the problematic aspects were also ranked.
a. Regarding the factors causing, Low community participation, low willingness to pay was the major factor identified in the survey. The other important factors include low willingness to participate in the cleanliness program and low willingness in keeping areas clean.
b. Inefficient Management was mainly caused due to lack of accountability to the community and low willingness to manage. This clearly shows the lack of proper legislative definition of responsibilities and ineffective controlling and monitoring device.
c. Problems in social operations were mainly caused by low salary of operators and low and bad working condition of workers. Unreliable service and space problems were also identified as the major issues which are the most important factors for a sustainable SWM system.
d. Major financial problem was caused by inadequate fee collection causing cost recovery problems.
e. Lack of co-ordination with municipality was mainly due to lack of assistance to be provided by municipality.
Conclusion 5
Solutions as suggested in open answers from each of the management team were grouped for each of the problematic aspects and listed in Table below as per the majority and priority of the respondents.
Recommendations
1. Increasing community participation from households
a. Education and Awareness
b. Provision of appropriate incentives and penalty
c. Develop a control system for periodic clean-up programs
2. Improving Managerial Aspect
a. Define Rights, Responsibilities and performance Control
b. Training and exchange visits for management Committee
3. Suggestions to improve Social operations
a. Consultation with local NGOs and opinion leaders
b. Official Recognition of Operators with additional facilities
c. Relate payment to performance plus division of collection areas and responsibilities
d. Integrate private entrepreneurs into the project
4. Suggestions to overcome Financial Problem
a. Fees based on income level
b. Change system of payment and give collectors more personal benefits
c. Add income generating recycling systems
d. Carry out Socio-economic feasibility study and improve financial control
5. Suggestions for enhancing the co-operation with Municipality
a. Involve local authority from the beginning and the structures facilitation of formal and informal co-operation.b. Extend the services to include secondary
1. Increasing community participation from households
a. Education and Awareness
b. Provision of appropriate incentives and penalty
c. Develop a control system for periodic clean-up programs
2. Improving Managerial Aspect
a. Define Rights, Responsibilities and performance Control
b. Training and exchange visits for management Committee
3. Suggestions to improve Social operations
a. Consultation with local NGOs and opinion leaders
b. Official Recognition of Operators with additional facilities
c. Relate payment to performance plus division of collection areas and responsibilities
d. Integrate private entrepreneurs into the project
4. Suggestions to overcome Financial Problem
a. Fees based on income level
b. Change system of payment and give collectors more personal benefits
c. Add income generating recycling systems
d. Carry out Socio-economic feasibility study and improve financial control
5. Suggestions for enhancing the co-operation with Municipality
a. Involve local authority from the beginning and the structures facilitation of formal and informal co-operation.b. Extend the services to include secondary
