Abstract:
Dhaka city has been experiencing rarnd population gw\\1h due to rural urban migration after
the liberation of Bangladesh as an independent nation in 1971. Increase in population is,
obviously, creating quick ri>e 10 generation of wild waste of the city. Waste generation
during 1985.91 period has increased at an avera!,>eannual rate of 4.33% per capita per year,
while the capability of OCC's solid waste management and its hygienic disJXlsal is
miserably lagging behind. More than half of the city's daily generated solid waste TeII1lllilS
uncollected and is disposed oflocally, making the environmental scenario uflhe metropolis
quite dismal and unhealthy. Dhaka City Corporation bears the responsibility of providing
solid wa~te manab>ement,But it is difficult for DeC to cope with the ri5mg demand with its
limited budget and its present plarming process, Tn this situation, the residents of Utlara.,
Kalabagan and Mohammadprn area have developed several local community based
organi7.ations to manage their wastes. However for the study purpose out of several
committees only three namely "Uttara Kallyan Samities", "Kalabagan Samaj Kallyan
Parisads" and "Environment Cleaning Project of Mohammad pur Area" has beenchosen.
Realizing the gravity of the SltuatiOn,this study has been undertaken with the expectation
that it would help prepare a sound and effective lIl"iionplan for solid waste management. In
other \\lOrds, this study aim at environmental lmprovement of the capital City through
community based organizahons (CBOs).
This study finds that there is an urgent need and scope to Improve solid wa,te management
system of Ohaka city and recommends both macro and micro level measures to improve it
for eventual betterment of the environment. At macro level, the national govemment can
play the role of a "fucilitator' to improve overall management system; while at the micro
level, DeC CllfIimprove their instirntional, financial and technicat capabilities and can take
the help of CBOs to improve the present waste disposal condition of different residential
areas of the city.
This study, however, comes to the conclusion that improvement of solid waste managcment
of the city can be achieved through joint invotvement of the community and the DeC.
Fmally, the study suggests a commlll'lity participation process through community based
organizations that will be helpful for involving people effectively for the development of
solid "''lISlemanagement in the absence of required govemmental resoun:es
