Solid waste management in Kabul city of Afghanistan
Student name: Mr Abdul Wahab Azad
Guide: Dr Bhawna Bali
Year of completion: 2015
Host Organisation: Kabul University, Kabul
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Prof Abdul Aziz Mohibbi
Abstract: Kabul City is the most populous city of Afghanistan, which houses nearly twenty per cent of the country’s population. Being the national capital and a major commercial centre it has witnessed continuous stream of migrants from all parts of the country since 2001. However, the growth of population and unplanned urbanization has increasingly contributed to the generation of solid waste in Kabul City. The study aims to highlight the current scenario of solid waste management (SWM) in Kabul City. The study is based on both secondary and primary data sources, and the discussions are based on all the aspects of SWM such as waste generation, segregation, collection at the collection points, and transportation to the landfills.
Findings from this study show that solid waste has been poorly managed in Kabul City by a lack of infrastructure and funds, existing weak institutional mechanisms, and inadequate governance systems. In the absence of proper solid waste management the city and its residents are faced with health, social, environmental and economical challenges. Given the present scenario of corrupt, weak, uneducated officials and economically poor and dependent government on internation aids, it is most difficult to manage the present generated wastes of Kabul City with old, traditional and unscientific methods and man power. The study suggests that a comprehensive SWM system in the country should be adopted in order to respond to the current needs of the city.
Key words: Solid Waste Management (SWM), landfill, waste management cycle, law and privatization.
