Generation and composition of municipal solid waste in Karachi

Abstract

Mega city Karachi has its discrepancies in solid waste management. According to this study, Karachi city currently generates more than 20,000 ton per day (TPD) of municipal solid waste (MSW), 1.244Kg/c/d, and 7.464Kg/h/d. Only 50% of the waste reached at the land filled site that is 9216.468 t/d and the total capacity of both the landfill sites is 9500 t/d. The composition of MSW is also assessed in summer and winter 2019 to 2020 and it was found that MSW containing the waste in the following order: organic waste >plastic waste > paper waste>textile waste> tetra brick aseptic packaging waste>diapers > nappies. This study investigates the system of the current solid waste management in Karachi city according to collection, transportation, and disposal to MSW dumping site and pinpoint the weakness in every process along the way and includes observation and interviews to deal with actual scenario as well. A total 300 respondents were then interviewed using elaborated questionnaire. The results were appealing against the current strategies of civic agencies responsible for solid waste management, it is an effort to secure people from serious health effects. The future solid waste generation has been estimated till 2030 is to be 25669.193 tons/d based on growth rate of 2.53%. The research had concluded that recycling as well as process treatment is the best strategy to eliminate or reduce the volume of waste using state of the art techniques to secure the natural recourses.