Leveraging ICT in Karachi’s Solid Waste Management System by Involving Waste Pickers, Recyclers, and Community—An Integrated Approach
- 1 Department of Information Systems, Kobe Institute of Computing (KIC), Kobe, Japan
- 2 Department of Information Systems, Kobe Institute of Computing (KIC), Kobe, Japan
Abstract
The authors of this article argue that connecting informal waste pickers and recyclers to the formal waste management system can potentially improve the efficiency and sustainability of the waste management system, as well as provide economic opportunities for the informal waste pickers and recyclers themselves. To do so, this study analyzes the current solid waste management practices and prospects in Karachi, Pakistan. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and workshops with a sample of five officials from governmental institutions Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), District Municipal Committees (DMCs) and several waste pickers. Findings that need to be addressed revealed that solid waste management in Karachi faces significant challenges. Potential strategies for addressing them include involving and integrating waste pickers in the formal waste management system, promoting the use of reusable and or recyclable materials, and developing and improving waste reduction and recycling programs. This can be achieved by exploring new technologies and approaches. Leveraging the potential of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) practices such as mobile and web applications, data analytics, and social media are used here to help improve solid waste management practices in Karachi. As a result, the authors conclude that connecting waste pickers and recyclers to the waste management system through partnerships that include government, and/or organizational pro grams, independent collection and processing of recyclable materials can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient waste management system for the city of Karachi and scaled to other cities currently using a system similar to that of Karachi.
- Ahmed, Z., Le, H. P., & Shahzad, S. J. H. (2022). Toward Environmental Sustainability: How Do Urbanization, Economic Growth, and Industrialization Affect Biocapacity in Brazi? Environment, Development and Sustainability, 24, 11676-11696. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01915-x
- Aslam, S., Ali, F., Naseer, A., & Sheikh, Z. (2022). Application of Material Flow Analysis for the Assessment of Current Municipal Solid Waste Management in Karachi, Pakistan. Waste Management & Research, 40, 185-194. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X211000427
- Atstaja, D., Koval, V., Grasis, J., Kalina, I., Kryshtal, H., & Mikhno, I. (2022). Sharing Model in Circular Economy towards Rational Use in Sustainable Production. Energies, 15, Article No. 939. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15030939
- Bhatt, A. K., Bhatia, R. K., Thakur, S., Rana, N., Sharma, V., & Rathour, R. K. (2018). Fuel from Waste: A Review on Scientific Solution for Waste Management and Environment Conservation. In A. Singh, R. Agarwal, A. Agarwal, A. Dhar, & M. Shukla, (Eds.), Prospects of Alternative Transportation Fuels (pp. 205-233). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7518-6_10
- Boukhelkhal, A. (2022). Impact of Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Trade on Ecological Footprint: Do Education and Longevity Promote Sustainable Development in Algeria? International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 29, 875-887. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2022.2112784
- Corbin, J. M., & Strauss, A. L. (2015). Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
- Dermawan, D., Wang, Y. F., You, S. J., Jiang, J. J., & Hsieh, Y. K. (2022). Impact of Climatic and Non-Climatic Stressors on Ocean Life and Human Health: A Review. Science of the Total Environment, 821, Article ID: 153387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153387
- Hennink, M., Hutter, I., & Bailey, A. (2020). Qualitative Research Methods. SAGE Publications Limited.
- Hossain, R., Islam, M. T., Ghose, A., & Sahajwalla, V. (2022). Full Circle: Challenges and Prospects for Plastic Waste Management in Australia to Achieve Circular Economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 368, Article ID: 133127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133127
- Jung, Y. S., Sampath, V., Prunicki, M., Aguilera, J., Allen, H., LaBeaud, D., & Nadeau, K. (2022). Characterization and Regulation of Microplastic Pollution for Protecting Planetary and Human Health. Environmental Pollution, 315, Article ID: 120442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120442