Title: Organic waste management: a review of practices from selected Asian countries

Authors: Nisansala Abeysinghe Mudiyanselage; Sunil Herat

Addresses: School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Queensland 4111, Australia ' School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Queensland 4111, Australia

Abstract: Organic solid waste has become a global crisis, especially in the developing countries of Asia. Countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC); Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka face severe waste management problems similar to other developing countries in South Asia. If not managed effectively, organic waste leads to disastrous human and environmental health issues. Hence, this study is carried out with the objectives of understanding the existing organic waste management methods in the SAARC region and to identify potential improvements for managing organic waste. According to the available literature, recycling, incineration, refuse-derived fuel, anaerobic digestion and land filling are practiced throughout the region. Furthermore, researchers have developed several improved methods to enhance organic waste management procedures in Asian countries.

Keywords: Asia; organic solid waste; waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2021.118856

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2021 Vol.28 No.4, pp.473 - 486

Received: 28 Feb 2019
Accepted: 29 Aug 2019
Published online: 09 Nov 2021 *

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