Analyzing Waste Problems in Developing Countries: Lessons for Kathmandu, Nepal through Analysis of the Waste System in Tsukuba City, Japan

Implementing an effective solid waste management program has become a difficult challenge in many developing countries. In most cases, local authorities lack the capacity to collect all the waste generated, let alone facilitate appropriate disposal. Street littering, illegal dumping and associated health and amenity impacts exacerbate these problems. On the other hand, developed countries have already overcome waste management problems in their cities by the introduction and implementation of proper laws and regulations, encouraging people to segregate household waste for recovery of materials, with financial support from central governments, to name a few. Many studies suggest that it is necessary to change not only the waste management capacity by local authorities but also residents’ perception regarding waste in developing countries. This article compares the waste system in Kathmandu, a typical city in a developing country, and Tsukuba city or Tsukuba Science City – as popularly known – in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan. The study argues that the segregation of waste at source and improvement of the waste collection system options for recovery of materials can not only help in managing waste problems but can also be a source of income if applied properly to Kathmandu city.