ANALYSIS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN, CURRENT AND FUTURE PROSPECTS: A CASE STUDY OF KABUL CITY

Abstract

In Asian countries like Afghanistan, the quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) is rapidly increasing because of increasing population and economic developments. This increased MSW amount and its inappropriate management has severe impacts on Kabul city. The purpose of the current study was to find out the MSW sources, generation rate, physiochemical properties, current and future management practices in Kabul city, Afghanistan. A questionnaire survey of a total number with 1,150 questionnaires was conducted on the basis of stratified random sampling in January, 2021. Quantification/composition of waste was determined by using a standard method of ASTM-D5231-92. The average MSW generation ratio of four (04) categories of residential areas such as (high, middle, low income and rural areas) were considered and ranged from 0.28±0.10 kilograms per capita per day (kg/c/d) for low income or rural areas to 0.48±0.10 kg/c/d for high income areas with the maximum quantity of food waste (FW) at 52.4% of the total waste, followed by paper 20.3% and plastic 17.4% in residential areas. Hence, the total generation of MSW was 3,200 tons/day. The mean per capita FW production in Kabul city was 0.35 kilograms/day or 120.10 kilograms/year. MSW includes of fifteen (15) different types, with organic waste >70% as a major constituent of the MSW in the Kabul city. Outcomes of the current study might help the government to design and operate a complete municipal solid waste management (MSWM) structure for Kabul city and other growing cities all over the country.