Analysis of community-based solid waste management in rural island communities: a case study of Mekong river island, north-east Cambodia | |
| Author | Dorji, Gyem |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ET-SUD-16-02 |
| Subject(s) | Salvage (Waste, etc.) Solid wastes |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management with specialization in Environmental Technology for Sustainable Development jointly offered by the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand and UNESCO–IHE, The Netherlands |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Community-based solid waste management approaches are gaining attraction across the world to mitigate waste-related impacts on the environment. There are several innovative technologies ranging from straightforward to complex aiming essentially at reduction of solid waste volume and its impact on day-to-day life and the environment. The studied remote Mekong river island communities located in ecologically unique area of global significance (Koh Rongnieu Island) are not spared from the challenges of solid wastes, as other part of the world is experiencing. The research was primarily focused on the assessment of the solid waste stream management and technologies that people adopted. It involved study of the waste composition and application of basic waste management hierarchy, particularly the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle plus Recovery (3Rs+R) perspective. Public surveys and key stakeholders’ interviews with semi-structure questionnaire were undertaken in three villages while waste stream was surveyed using quartering and coning sampling method in Sompin and Koh Pdao villages only due to some other practical reasons. In order to triangulate the information, the most significant change (MSC) techniques was applied. The study revealed that respondents are well aware of the solid waste problems and its consequences. It can also be stated that their practice is in line with some of the core principles of solid waste management such as reuse and recycling. 90% of kitchen waste is used as feed for pigs, while 95% of aluminum beverage cans are collected daily by every individual irrespective of age, stored at home and later sold to informal scrap collectors. The study showed that 33 and 41% of plastic material, followed by 11 and 13% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles form major portion of the total solid waste (100%) in waste stream in Sompin and Koh Pdao village communities of the island, respectively. Due to lack of the market and other means of disposal, every household burns the collected solid waste in front of their houses, roadside and agriculture fields or otherwise directly dumps it into the river and lowland wetlands. Overall, the Koh Pdao community still successfully practicing solid waste management in contrast to other villages. It was estimated 10.4 tons of solid waste excluding organic waste whereas Sompin is estimated 2.4 tons of solid waste generation in a year. On the other hand, Sompin community generated less since 80% of the solid waste is not collected and vice-versa with Koh Pdao. Further, Kampong Krabie community, the shops contribute 1.09 tons of solid waste annually, but 90% were not collected and disposed beside roadside or behind the shop towards riverbank as responded during the study. All the above-mentioned solid waste was either burnt or dumped into the riverside. The study revealed that both the solid waste disposal practices are seriously showing adverse impacts on human, animal and environment health. One in all, the major drawback on solid waste management with the finding of the study and observation is that the people’s attitude and behavior is the critical aspects in the society. The few external donor agencies through projects in collaboration with Cambodian Rural Development Team tried to intervened and influence in two villages of Koh Rongnieu island (Sampin and Koh Pdao) by providing educating and training along with general awareness campaign. With this program people were quite changed in their behavior and attitude specially the Koh Pdao Community. |
| Year | 2016 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg V.;Douven, Wim J. A. M.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Annachhatre, Ajit P.;Rene, Eldon Raj;Ebbers, Theo; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Netherlands Fellowships Programmes(NFP); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2016 |