Effects of Methods of Waste Management

Question: Discuss about the Effects of Methods of Waste Management. Answer: Introduction The changing trends in the society have created an alarm due to the heightening amounts of solid waste production. Industrialization, urbanization and changing consumption practices are threat to waste management practices in major cities. If solid waste is handled appropriately it can be of great worth. Malpractices in handling solid waste results to adverse effects both to the environment and human existence. Better methods of waste management should therefore be adopted for a better future. In the recent past, Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has had great concerns in the increasing rate of environmental degradation. Such is a long term effect of prolonged poor waste management practices. Industrialization in this city has played a major role in the fore mentioned consequence (Alam, 2009, p. 1090). Factories utilized the surface water sources as dumping sites for their non-biodegradable waste products. Water sources have been for long been used as bins for industrial waste. At domestic level, households majorly disposed their waste products at nearby bushes or even in the natural holes (Pokhrel, 2012, p. 560). These waste products are composition of both food debris remains and plastic materials. In the urban centers, the condition has been more pathetic. Inhabitants have been either reluctant to paying for private waste collection services or the services are unreliable. At some regions the ferrying services have not been available. These unethical conducts have posed a great challenge to the development of Kathmandu. This has contributed to the stepwise loss of the citys landscape (Eicher, 2010, p. 367). The famous beauty of the city has degraded profusely. The pollution in the city evidenced by the huge heaps of uncollected waste neither made the city attractive. The productivity of agricultural land has been affected negatively with time due to damage caused by the solid waste. The quality of life is endangered by the effects of poor management of solid waste. The pollution at the water sources hinders the thriving of human beings. Unclean water increases the vulnerability to waterborne diseases (Giusti, 2009, 2228). The city is no longer appealing thus reduced numbers of tourists seeking to make visits. This lowers the economic stability of the city exposing it to disasters. Destruction of the productive agricultural land calls for quick action failure to which the city will end up relying on food aids from external sources. Such challenges need to be addressed lest the growth of the city turns to be an illusion. Conclusion The centrality of effective solid waste management practices may not seem so much important unless its effects are unveiled. The masses need to be educated about waste management and transportation services also availed. Enforcement of appropriate laws and maximization of recycling could also be of much help. To maximize waste recycling, the private sector should be engaged to absorb useful waste. References Alam, R., 2009. Generation, storage, collection and transportation of municipal solid waste A case study in the city of Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. Waste Management, 28(6), pp. 1088-1097. Eicher, A., 2010. Waste Management Introduction. Waste Management, 22(4), pp. 367-368. Giusti, L., 2009. A review of waste management practices and their impact on human health. Waste Management, 29(8), pp. 2227-2239. Pokhrel, D., 2012. Municipal solid waste management in Nepal: practices and challenges. Waste Management, 25(5), pp. 555-562.