Md. Ataur Rahman, a waste collector in Shibganj, works for the municipality. Previously he worked a single shift for waste collecting, now with the launch of the Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) initiative in Shibganj, he works two shifts, in serving the municipality and the local community.
Municipalities bear the responsibility of managing waste from households and communities, ensuring safe and timely collection, segregation, and disposal. In Bangladesh, there’s a lack of knowledge, capacity, and resources for effective waste management, leading to social, environmental, and health risks. Shibganj upazila is primarily focused on agriculture, while its municipality is less densely
populated but lacks adequate solid waste management facilities and modern infrastructure. PRABRIDDHI partnered with Shibganj Municipality to pilot a MSWM model in Ward 5, aiming to develop a long-term plan aligned with current social, environmental, and economic conditions.
This initiative has led to improved civic amenities, enhanced environmental quality, and cleaner streets, all of which have been warmly welcomed by the community. The citizens of Shibganj have reported that they are benefitting mainly because of less pollution, a cleaner environment near the households, and due to the systematic process of disposing the household waste.
The initiative has also led to an increase in employment opportunities and income. Ataur shared his experience, saying, “Previously, we relied on a single shift, earning BDT 230, with hopes of overtime for extra income. However, with PRABRIDDHI’s support, we now work two shifts, earning BDT 472, resulting in an additional income of approximately BDT 5,000 to 7,000 per month.” He also highlighted that the former employees of the Waste Management Department were rehired, primarily to work in two shifts. During the first shift, they work in various areas of Shibganj Municipality, while during the second shift, they mainly focus on monitoring and management of the model. “As a result, they have found new job opportunities, allowing them to earn income not only during one shift as before but now they can earn income during two shifts or more. Consequently, their quality of life has improved,” he added.
Notably, the municipality faces logistical challenges and a shortage of manpower in implementing systematic waste management. To ensure the smooth implementation of the model Shibganj municipality has employed 40 additional employees. As a result, the 40 MSWM workers (45% women) have enjoyed a net additional income of BDT 890,000 or CHF 7,400 through working an additional 1,920 labour days.
To build the capacity of waste collectors, the MSWM initiative emphasises conducting training on various aspects, including wearing boots, hand gloves, masks, and the proper use of equipment in the city. Additionally, waste collectors undergo monthly refresher training sessions, providing them with sufficient and crucial knowledge on these matters.
Furthermore, the initiative has aided the municipality in establishing a cost-recovery model for MSWM. The municipality has been collecting fees from the households in return for solid waste management services. During this reporting period, the municipality has been able to cover the cost of running this model through the fees collected from the community, which amounted to a total of BDT 98,500 or CHF 800
Through the model, the municipality segregates approximately 9.5 tons of non-biodegradable waste per month from ward no 5 which is valued at BDT 142,000 or CHF 1,190. If the model is replicated across all other wards of the municipality, and the waste is marketed, this has the potential to generate an additional yearly revenue of BDT 7.2 million or CHF 60,000, indicates PRABRIDDHI’s projection.
