Are there any secret millionaires in waste?

The Framings of Real Waste Systems in Karachi and Dhaka

Mansoor AliPractical Action (ITDG), UK

mansali@practicalaction.org.uk

Karachi and Dhaka – background

Population; 12 to 14 million

Area – 650 sq-km (Dhaka) 1600 sq-km (Karachi) Waste = 6000 tonnes/ day

Both within 20 most populous cities in the world

Structure of this talk

• Three real systems• Modernisation of waste • How STEPS could be useful in

practice

Alternative Framing in Waste

• Service Coverage• Service Gaps• Cost recovery• Investment needs• Institutional reforms, regulations etc.• Capacity Development

• Income and employment• Waste as a livelihood • Poor recycling waste• Pickers are important• Recycling and waste reduction

OR• Around climate – landfill gas, waste recycling etc.

Key Issues

• Can these narratives work together?• Do we have capacity to deal with conflicts and

tension?• Do they only exist in research and literature?• Do key practice decisions on financing,

standards etc. take care of all these different narratives?

First; Local Initiatives in Dhaka

Local Initiatives in Dhaka

• Serve

Local Initiatives in Dhaka

• Serve at-least 2 million people• Creates 6000 employment ( for

hard to reach poor)• Turnover 2.25 million US $• No issues with creating demand,

cost recovery, investments and technologies

Second; Sweepers in Karachi

Sweepers in Karachi

• 12000 municipal & 4000 self employed• Official beats and private work• Serving 5 million• Buy and sell areas• Generate an equivalent of waste operational

budget• Generate US $ 10 million/ year• No debate on demand, cost recovery etc. • Is it legal? Illegal? Corruption? etc.

Third; Informal System of Recycling; Pickers

Ne

Third; Informal System of Recycling; Itinerant Buyers

Using whatever valuable is left?

Systems of Recycling (each city)

• Reduces waste by 20% weight or 1200 tonnes/ day (200 truck loads/ day)

• Additional income – 2 million• Employment 35000• Turnover US $ 55 million• Jobs for the poorest • Global connection – import and export

End of Part 1;Key Points

Modernisation of Waste Systems

• Governments and politicians• Donors and NGOs• Private Investors (China, India, Turkey and

UAE)

Different Narratives – Not much on Real SystemThink about Farmers and Govt Extension; Facebook; ‘Familiar users’ vs Child Protection

What is common?

• Service coverage• Large scale investments needed• Technologies – coverage/ demonstration• Climate mitigation• Consultants and contractors• Local capacity is poor• Employment through training and skills

development• Recycling of Organics

Some examples

• Large Compost Plant in Karachi • Garbage Train in Karachi• Landfill Site in Karachi• Compost Plants in Bangladesh• Landfill Development in Dhaka

Looking many cities and many projects• Is there a link between aid and trade?• Is there an understanding between

local corruption and international loans/ investments?

• Who cares about the poor?• Who will look at the big picture?• Where is the interconnectedness?

So, what need to change in Practice?Where STEPS concept is relevant

1) Independent and relevant research to define problem, pathways (alternatives) and outcome

2) Independent and accessible information about projects, policies, finances etc. locally available? e.g. Urban Resource Centre, Karachi

So, what need to change in Practice?Where STEPS concept is relevant

So, what need to change in Practice?Where STEPS concept is relevant

3) Democracy in Practice. All citizens able to make decisions based on research, data and information. Form, needs and timings are key.

So, what need to change in Practice?Where STEPS concept is relevant

4) Honest professional practice. Large number of practitioners educated to say no to socially and environmentally damaging projects

So, what need to change in Practice?Where STEPS concept is relevant

5) Karachi-Dhaka-Brighton Citizens AllianceCitizens, pro-poor professionals and media in the North and South talking to each other.

Massive public education is needed in the North.