Dhaka City is notoriously dirty-probably the dirtiest and filthiest city on earth. Immediate initiatives must be undertaken to clean up the city, not only to make it look better but also to reduce health hazards to the city’s population, especially young and growing children.

Unbelievably, of the four thousand metric tons (MT) of garbage and solid waste which are produced in the city daily, about half is collected. The remaining half is piled up, decomposes, dries and is scattered on the streets and into the air. In the process, the air gets heavy, contaminated, polluted and dangerously injurious to the health of citizens. Even contaminated hospital waste, which is the source of many infectious and dangerous diseases, is not cleared daily.  The mayor must act quickly to ensure that 100% of the solid waste produced is collected and disposed off on a daily basis prior to 5:30 A.M. Therefore:

• All garbage that is accumulated on the streets, should be taken away no later than 5:30 A.M.
• All solid waste should be cleared daily.
• All streets should be swept on a daily basis.
• Streets must be watered as needed.
• Solid waste transportation should be privatised.
• All drains and sewage should be cleaned on a weekly basis.
• Garbage disposal depots and sites should be managed scientifically.
• A garbage deposit can, drum or box must stand on every street corner that is cleared and cleaned daily. Garbage must be collected at night only.
• “A policy manual of waste management system” should be made and implemented. Such a system should include:
  • A new dumping site away from the city.
  • A modern recycling process developed and encouraged to be implemented in cooperation with the private sector.
  • A modern retrieval plant should be established so that part of the waste can be recycled for productive and economic use, such as producing “organic manure” and “compost.”
• In other words, solid waste management should be made in accordance with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, advanced technology, conservation, aesthetic relief and other environmental considerations.