INTRODUCTION

Bardees is a rural village located in El Balliana Markaz in the southern part of Sohag Governorate. Population is around 40,000 with a high proportion of low income families. Bardees had been trying to deal with a growing waste problem with old equipment in poor condition.

As part of the Sohag Governorate Environmental Action Plan solid waste issues had been ranked by the community as the number one priority requiring attention. In response to a request to assist the community of Bardees, support was provided through SEAM to improve the waste collection system. Community participation has been an integral part of the project.

ISSUES

Previously, waste collection was undertaken using two old Belarus tractors with box trailers having a high loading height and limited capacity of 2.5 m3. Most of the wastes for collection are in loose heaps which are loaded into baskets and then lifted into the trailer. Waste is transported to a small disposal
site about 4 km away. 

Concerns and issues that arose were:
 

• Inadequate equipment in poor condition.
• Existing trailers have limited capacity with a high loading height of 1.9 m. Workers are required to load the trailer above their heads resulting in unhygienic waste spillage.
• Insufficient coverage - only 11% of residents in the smaller streets claimed they received a service. Service in main streets was much better.
• Community satisfaction of waste collection service is low, with only a 15% approval rating among households and 45% approval rating among non-households.
• 36% of residents regarded their streets as dirty.
• Lack of community awareness and involvement.

IMPLEMENTATION

Waste characteristics and community views At the outset, an assessment was made of the waste characteristics and community’s views were sought on how to improve the waste collection system.

The waste for collection was found to be 60-70% ash and dirt. Residents tend to use organics for animal feed and recycle any materials of value. Common disposal practices, by residents, of the remaining waste are: 

61% burn wastes in oven 
30% put waste in collection vehicle
25% dump in nearby empty area 
8% throw in canal 
7% collected by door to door cleansing workers

Presumably in view of the way in which waste is disposed, only 9% of households were interested in segregating their waste prior to disposal.

On the preferred mechanism of waste collection, 72% favoured collection in bins and 28% in plastic bags. Over 66% of households and 89% of shops preferred to have their waste collected between 8:00-10:00 a.m.

 

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