Socio-economic and Environmental Impact of Landfill Site: A Case Study of Sisdole Landfill Site, Nuwakot District
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Central Department of Rural Development Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Abstract
The present study site “Sisdole Landfill Site” is situated in Okharpauwa VDC, one of
the sixty-one of the Nuwakot District of Bagmati zone. Among the various villages of
the VDC sisdole is located in ward 4. The study tries to show the socio-economic and
environmental impact of the Sisdole landfill site in the local community of the sisdole.
In order to retrieve a broad picture of the current waste management situation, the
landfill site is investigated. JICA report 2005 reveals that 70% waste is organic waste
and remaining are the inorganic which can be recycled with some extent.
The population growth rate of Kathmandu is more than 6% which is highest among
the cities of Nepal. Due to the rapid increase in population and increase in the
consumption of packed goods, the amount as well as the quantum of non-
biodegradable waste is increasing over time. Among the total waste generated in
Nepal, 80% is generated only from Kathmandu and only 30% of the total refuse is
being collected in containers and transferred to the land fill site. A study carried out
by CEDA (1986) revealed that 78% of the solid waste was biodegradable and 22%
non biodegradable in Kathmandu. The Sisdole Landfill site was developed in 2005.
Since then about 400-500 metric tons of wastes are disposed. It is situated in 475
Ropani of the land. The management system of this site is very weak. So that it has
various harmful effects on the local people. Increasing pollution in Kolpu Khola not
only destroy the water species but also effects in the irrigation system. This eventually
effects on the agriculture production. Respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases
can be spread due to unmanaged waste management system.
After the installation of the landfill site, the local people got the road, electricity, and
health post near by the site. One health post is made by authority. The site has
multiple effects on human beings, animals, plants, water species and various
ecosystems. The main problem of the locals is water pollution, soil pollution and
health problems due to this on human and animal. According to them the facility
given by authority is not enough in comparison to its harms. The recurring conflict
between local and authority is also taken as the improper management system of the
government. If government made proper leachate system, proper soil capping system
and processing of the waste the debate would not arise. The unmanaged waste system
at the landfill site, no utilization of the waste, increasing amount of the waste,
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increasing pollution and health problems at landfill site and ever rising conflict
between government authority and the local people are the current problems related
with this sector.
Although there are many problems related with the site, government authority had
launched many policies such as Solid Waste management and Resource Mobilization
Act-1987, National Solid Waste Management Policy-1996, Local Self Governance
Act-1996. These acts and policies can be taken as the positive action towards the
solid waste management.