Solid waste management 12 Bhutan has so far successfully managed the process of development and ensured a harmo- nious balance between modern economic forces, traditional social values and the natural environment. But as the country enters the next phase of development, it faces a set ofnew challenges. Till now, the development effort was, to a large extent, limited to basic tasks such as building infrastructure, con- structing roads and opening health care centres and schools. Today, this physical foun- dation is largely in place. Now, the focus has to be on ensuring that the public provisioning of basic social services is of good quality, and at the same time is equitable and efficient. Already, the public outlay on health, educa- tion, water supply and sanitation accounts for more than 20% of the Government’s expendi- ture. But as the population increases, and more and more people expect to have im- proved access to these basic social services, the burden on the exchequer can only increase (Planning Commission 2000). The RGoB (Royal Government of Bhutan) faces new challenges, as a result of opening the country to economic development. Threats to the continued integrity of Bhutan’s natural resource base are increasingly being felt from a variety of “developmental” sources—infra- structure construction, industrial expansion, increasing urbanisation, compromising land- use management practices, high population growth rate, employment shifts, changing consumption patterns and introduction ofnew technologies (NEC 1998a). Pressure/Cause Waste disposal is an emerging problem in almost all the urban towns in Bhutan (Photo 12.1 and 12.2). The increase in waste genera- tion can be primarily attributed to factors such as rapid rates of urbanisation, rural- urban migration, changing consumption pattern and high population growth rate. While the magnitude of the problem is relatively small and manageable in rural areas, it appears to be growing significantly in urban areas in recent times. Rapid urbanization and migration Rapid urbanization and migration Rapid urbanization and migration Rapid urbanization and migration Rapid urbanization and migration f rf rf rf rf rom rom rom rom ro m rural ar ural ar ural ar ural ar ural ar e a s ea s e a s ea s e a s Urbanisation in Bhutan really began in 1961 with the introduction of the country’s first five-year development plan. Today, Thimphu has a population of roughly 46,000 and Phuntsholing has about 23,000 inhabitants, while 26 other townships also are considered major urban areas (NEC 1998a). In total, the Photo 12.1Solid waste: an emerging problem
