Self-Managed Low-Cost Solid Waste Management

Summary: Untreated waste in Quetta city bears an economic cost for residents of the area and is also an environmental hazard. Increasing pollution leading to environmental changes and economic cost related to waste in terms of health hazards and negative impact on infrastructure have changed the way authorities view it. Quetta, like other developing cities, faces serious environmental problems. According to Metropolitan sources there were 726 sweepers in Quetta i.e. one sweeper for a population of 3227, out of a total population of 2.2 million. Whereas garbage tubes in Quetta city were 87.

Targeted areas of GOR with 350 households were focused under the SWM project. To tackle the issues related to SWM, WESS introduced an inclusive model of social mobilization to successfully implement the project in GOR with the financial support of UNDP. The committee formed for project implementation ensured safe and effective waste collection on the ground by garbage workers and transported waste to the identified places of MCQ. Under the project WESS ensured the collection and removal of garbage from the streets of GOR on a daily basis, whereas the designated points of QMC were cleaned by the department on a weekly basis. Project committees under the project ensured collection of PKR 400/Household on monthly basis to sustain SWM related activities in their areas.