Joshi, Anusuya (2015) Community-based waste management strategies in relation to a targeted Nepalese community. PhD thesis, Victoria University.

Abstract

The Bagmati River, which is of great cultural and religious importance to the Nepalese people, is also a major water resource. Its degradation, as a result of urbanization and industrialization, affects water quality and poses a threat to the environment and to human health - as well as resulting in water scarcity. In particular, the discharge of sewage directly into the river without prior treatment contributes significantly to river water pollution, whereas municipal solid waste dumping onto the river bank and development activities are major contributors to the deteriorating situation of the river basin overall. This study addresses this problem from a number of perspectives including an examination of two appropriate community-based technologies that may contribute to the sustainable management of domestic waste and sewage and that will also minimize the impact on the surrounding environment, especially the Bagmati River. Thus an existing composting method, the Takakura Composting Method (TCM), for municipal solid waste management was scientifically investigated with a view to optimizing its current performance. Vermifiltration (VF), which exploits earthworm metabolism to remove contaminants from sewage effluent, was also scientifically investigated in order to develop its potential for treating domestic sewage at the community level. Also investigated is the potential for both of these technologies to be integrated into the community for resource recovery.

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