WASTE

Generation rates for MSW vary from city to cold months. The basic infrastructure brings other
city and from season to season and have a strong variations in cities and towns (such as Calcutta,
correlation with levels of economic development and Dhaka, and Hanoi) with unpaved or poorly paved
activity. High-income countries (such as Australia, streets that have large amounts of dust and dirt from
Japan, Hong Kong, China, Republic of Korea, and street sweeping. There are big differences in amounts
Singapore) produce between 1.1 and 5.0 kg/capita/ of organic waste among cities according to the
day; middle-income countries (such as Indonesia, number of trees and shrubs in public places. Large
Malaysia and Thailand) generate between 0.52 and and bulky waste items such as abandoned motorcars,
1.0 kg/capita/day, whilst low-income countries (such furniture and packaging are found in the higher-
as Bangladesh, India, Viet Nam and Myanmar) have income economies such as Brunei Darussalam, Japan,
generation rates of between 0.45 and 0.89 kg/capita/ Republic of Korea and Singapore, but not in
day. Figure 8.1 shows MSW generation by the high, low-income countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia,
middle and low-income countries of the region. Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam. Table 8.2
Taken as a whole, the Asian and Pacific Region provides an illustration of the quantities and types
currently produces some 1.5 million tonnes of MSW of MSW generated in selected countries of the South
each day and this is expected to more than double Pacific subregion.
by 2025 (World Bank 1999). The current estimate for
waste generation may be considered as extremely
Figure 8.2 Estimated Generation of Municipal Solid
conservative; the actual levels are probably more than
Waste in Different Subregions
double this amount. Figure 8.2 presents the current
2.0
contribution of the various subregions to the waste Total quantity Southeast Asia
generated by the region (United Nations 1995, World Northeast Asia Central Asia
Bank 1995 and 1998, UNEP/SPREP 1997). 1.5 South Asia The Pacific

The composition of municipal solid waste

Million tonnes

varies significantly across the region (see Figure 8.3)

1.0
with some middle and low income countries
generating waste containing over 70 per cent organic
content, with a corresponding moisture content in 0.5
excess of 50 per cent. Differences in the
characterization and reporting of waste types also
0.0
differ with some municipal authorities including 1992 2000 2010
construction and demolition waste and industrial Year
waste as part of the municipal waste stream. Source: United Nations 1995, World Bank 1995 and 1998, UNEP/
Some inter-urban differences relate to climate SPREP 1997
and fuel use. The cities where heating is needed in
winter such as Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo Figure 8.3 Approximate Composition of Municipal
and where coal is the main source of energy, have Solid Waste in Selected Cities of ESCAP
much greater amount of ash in the waste in those Member Countries
100

Figure 8.1 Municipal Solid Waste Generation in 75

Different Groups of Countries in the
Percentage

Region
2.0 50
Total quantity
High-income countries
Middle-income countries 25
1.5
Low-income countries
Million tonnes

1.0 0
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ng

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ai

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or
ou
pu

ky
ko
ba

ac

an
gh

om
iji

ap

To
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0.5
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Organic waste Plastic

Mixed non-organic waste Paper, cardboard
0.0
1992 2000 2010
Year Source: United Nations 1995, World Bank 1995 and 1998, UNEP/
Source: World Bank 1999 SPREP 1997

171