2019 Theses Master's

Privatization and decentralization of a public service: Solid Waste Management in Kathmandu

Bhele, Suprima

Solid Waste Management (SWM) system in Kathmandu, Nepal was looked over by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). The three stages of SWM systems: collection, transportation, and disposal were all under its purview. Once, the waste was out of people’s personal property; then the waste would be the property of the city. With the gap in the amount of waste generation and the amount of waste that KMC was treating, there was a rise of privatization in the SWM system which led to the decentralization of SWM systems.

The primary objectives of this study are:
• to examine the effects and impacts of decentralization in the SWM systems in Kathmandu on the city, the people and the systems themselves,
• to evaluate the drivers of SWM system operations, and
• to analyze the efficiency of any SWM system and its operation in Kathmandu.

With the qualitative approach of systematic observation and analysis through interviews of key players in the multiple systems, this study found that SWM in Kathmandu is seldom collaborative. There is instead an added financial expense on the locals for their desire of a clean neighborhood. Furthermore, findings revealed that there is a lack of vision and contingency plans for KMC’s system and a lack of regulation for multiple private sector operations. This study concludes with recommendations for SWM systems and practices and the implications for planning research in SWM.