**2. Methods and material**

#### **2.1 The study area**

The district of Upper Dir is situated in the North-west of Pakistan with a total geographical area of 3,699 sq.km [11]. The total population of the district was enumerated as 946,421 with 120,228 households as in 2018. The population density is 156 persons/sq.km [12]. The elevation of study area varies from 5577 meters above mean sea level in the north to 844meters in the south. River Panjkora, fed by rain and melt water, is the main source of water for various purposes particularly at domestic level. The annual rainfall in the area varies from 823 to 2149 mm [13–14].

The target community is Dir City- the oldest settlement with high population density in the entire district. The estimated population of the target area is 121893 persons with 12345 households. Average family size is about 8 persons [15]. Dir City is further divided into many communities like Main Bazaar, Rehankot, Shaow, Kaas, College Colony and Bijli Ghar. Most of the municipal solid waste and entire liquid waste is persistently dumped haphazardly in open spaces and into Dir River which is a source of fresh water. Such anthropogenic activity is polluting precious fresh water resource.

#### **2.2 Data collection and analysis**

For achievement of this micro-level research work objectives, primary data is collected using questionnaire based households survey and direct field measurements. The field work was conducted in September, 2020. A detailed semistructured questionnaire was developed containing questions regarding family size, monthly income, daily solid waste generation in Kilograms (Kg), effects of open dumping and caused of inappropriate disposal as suggested by [16]. The surveys were conducted in the target community using systematic sampling techniques. A total of 112 household's head were interviewed. Population data and households data was acquired from the Tehsil Municipal Authority (TMA), District Upper Dir.

The data regarding monthly income and family size were processed and classified using frequency distribution. The monthly income of the surveyed household was arranged into three classes i.e. *"low income class*" <35,000 in Pakistani Rupees (PKR; 1US\$ =160 PKR, 2020), "*middle income class*" ranging from 35,000–70,000 PKR, and "*high income class*" >70,000 PKR. These income classes were used to find out variations in generation of solid waste at household level among various segments of the community. In the same way, family size of the surveyed households was arranged into three groups; *small family* (<7 persons), *medium family* (7–12 persons) and *large family* (>12 persons).

The average solid waste generation (Kg/day) for each income and family size class was calculated by using Eq. (1):

$$\mathbf{SW}\_{\text{average}} = \sum \mathbf{N} / \mathbf{n} \tag{1}$$

**133**

**Table 1.**

*Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Dir City*

**SW SW / FS pc average average** = (2)

**SW p SW residential** = ∗ ( ) ( **pc** ) (3)

( ) ( ) **Annual T x 365** = (4)

In the given equation "**SWpc**" is the solid waste generation per capita and "**FSaverage**" is the average family size. The total solid waste generated by residential sector is calculated by using Eq. (3). In the same manner solid waste generation per day for each sector is calculated and then by adding all sectors a grand total "T" for

In the given equation "**SWresidential**" is the residential solid waste generated per day, and "p" is the total population. The annual solid waste generation is estimated

The total population of the 112 surveyed households was counted as 1442 persons. Family size of the surveyed households has divided into three classes. The family included parents, their sons, daughters, nephews, grandfather and grandmother. Medium size families were around 33 percent, though small and large size families were 17% and 50%, respectively (**Table 1**). Average family size of the surveyed households was 9 persons. Solid waste generated by the small, medium and large families was 1.8 Kg/day, 3.2 Kg/day and 4.9 Kg/day, respectively. Similarly, the monthly income of the surveyed household head was also classified into three groups out of which about 32 percent were low income with a monthly income of less than 35,000 PKR, around 44 percent income was ranging from 35,000 to 70,000 PKR, and about 24 percent falls in high income group having monthly income more than 70,000 PKR (**Table 2**). Daily waste generation increases with the increase in household monthly income. Low, medium and high monthly income households have been generating 1.3 Kg/day, 3.1 Kg/day

The rapid population growth, rising urbanization and consumption patterns led to the production of more solid waste [17]. Municipal authorities have to manage

**Family Size Percentage Kg/day** Small 17 1.8 Medium 33 3.2 Large 50 4.9 Average 3.3

The results are visualized in the form of tables and graphs.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95557*

all sectors is estimated.

using the Eq. (4).

**3. Results and discussion**

and 5.6 Kg/day, respectively.

*Source: Field Survey September, 2020.*

**3.1 Municipal waste generation and composition**

*Solid waste generation per day by various size families in (kg/day).*

In the given equation "**SWaverage**" is the average solid waste generation, "N" numerical value of each observation and "n" is the total number of observations. While average solid waste per person/day was calculated using Eq. (2):

*Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Dir City DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95557*

*Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development*

**2. Methods and material**

**2.1 The study area**

water resource.

**2.2 Data collection and analysis**

persons) and *large family* (>12 persons).

class was calculated by using Eq. (1):

commercial, health, and educational sectors of Dir City.

followed by commercial activities with heterogeneous nature and quantity [9, 10]. The focus of this study is the analysis of solid waste generation by residential,

The district of Upper Dir is situated in the North-west of Pakistan with a total geographical area of 3,699 sq.km [11]. The total population of the district was enumerated as 946,421 with 120,228 households as in 2018. The population density is 156 persons/sq.km [12]. The elevation of study area varies from 5577 meters above mean sea level in the north to 844meters in the south. River Panjkora, fed by rain and melt water, is the main source of water for various purposes particularly at domestic level. The annual rainfall in the area varies from 823 to 2149 mm [13–14]. The target community is Dir City- the oldest settlement with high population density in the entire district. The estimated population of the target area is 121893 persons with 12345 households. Average family size is about 8 persons [15]. Dir City is further divided into many communities like Main Bazaar, Rehankot, Shaow, Kaas, College Colony and Bijli Ghar. Most of the municipal solid waste and entire liquid waste is persistently dumped haphazardly in open spaces and into Dir River which is a source of fresh water. Such anthropogenic activity is polluting precious fresh

For achievement of this micro-level research work objectives, primary data is collected using questionnaire based households survey and direct field measurements. The field work was conducted in September, 2020. A detailed semistructured questionnaire was developed containing questions regarding family size, monthly income, daily solid waste generation in Kilograms (Kg), effects of open dumping and caused of inappropriate disposal as suggested by [16]. The surveys were conducted in the target community using systematic sampling techniques. A total of 112 household's head were interviewed. Population data and households data was acquired from the Tehsil Municipal Authority (TMA), District Upper Dir. The data regarding monthly income and family size were processed and classified using frequency distribution. The monthly income of the surveyed household was arranged into three classes i.e. *"low income class*" <35,000 in Pakistani Rupees (PKR; 1US\$ =160 PKR, 2020), "*middle income class*" ranging from 35,000–70,000 PKR, and "*high income class*" >70,000 PKR. These income classes were used to find out variations in generation of solid waste at household level among various segments of the community. In the same way, family size of the surveyed households was arranged into three groups; *small family* (<7 persons), *medium family* (7–12

The average solid waste generation (Kg/day) for each income and family size

In the given equation "**SWaverage**" is the average solid waste generation, "N" numerical value of each observation and "n" is the total number of observations.

While average solid waste per person/day was calculated using Eq. (2):

**SW N / n average** = ∑ (1)

**132**

$$\text{SW}\_{\text{pc}} = \text{SW}\_{\text{average}} / \text{FS}\_{\text{average}} \tag{2}$$

In the given equation "**SWpc**" is the solid waste generation per capita and "**FSaverage**" is the average family size. The total solid waste generated by residential sector is calculated by using Eq. (3). In the same manner solid waste generation per day for each sector is calculated and then by adding all sectors a grand total "T" for all sectors is estimated.

$$\mathbf{SW}\_{\text{residential}} = (\mathbf{p}) \bullet (\mathbf{SW}\_{\text{pc}}) \tag{3}$$

In the given equation "**SWresidential**" is the residential solid waste generated per day, and "p" is the total population. The annual solid waste generation is estimated using the Eq. (4).

$$\mathbf{Annual} = \begin{bmatrix} (\mathbf{T}) \mathbf{x} \,(\mathbf{365}) \end{bmatrix} \tag{4}$$

The results are visualized in the form of tables and graphs.

## **3. Results and discussion**

The total population of the 112 surveyed households was counted as 1442 persons. Family size of the surveyed households has divided into three classes. The family included parents, their sons, daughters, nephews, grandfather and grandmother. Medium size families were around 33 percent, though small and large size families were 17% and 50%, respectively (**Table 1**). Average family size of the surveyed households was 9 persons. Solid waste generated by the small, medium and large families was 1.8 Kg/day, 3.2 Kg/day and 4.9 Kg/day, respectively.

Similarly, the monthly income of the surveyed household head was also classified into three groups out of which about 32 percent were low income with a monthly income of less than 35,000 PKR, around 44 percent income was ranging from 35,000 to 70,000 PKR, and about 24 percent falls in high income group having monthly income more than 70,000 PKR (**Table 2**). Daily waste generation increases with the increase in household monthly income. Low, medium and high monthly income households have been generating 1.3 Kg/day, 3.1 Kg/day and 5.6 Kg/day, respectively.

#### **3.1 Municipal waste generation and composition**

The rapid population growth, rising urbanization and consumption patterns led to the production of more solid waste [17]. Municipal authorities have to manage


#### **Table 1.**

*Solid waste generation per day by various size families in (kg/day).*


#### **Table 2.**

*Solid waste generation various income groups in (kg/day).*

the solid waste arising from residential, commercial, health and educational activities along with the waste collected from the streets [18]. Normally the municipal authorities manage all type of wastes dropped in the community bins located at street level in the city [19]. In the study area, Tehsil Municipal Authority (TMA) is not working properly and the residents are also disposing the wastes directly in the streets, drains, open spaces, vacant plots and river. The major source of municipal solid waste production is residential sector. The average wastes produced by commercial, educational and health sectors per day were 3.3 kg, 21 kg, 12 kg and 7 kg, correspondingly (**Table 3**). The fruit and vegetable market was generating waste of about 300 kg/day.

Results indicated that the per capita generation of solid waste is 0.37 kg/day. The total waste generated by the entire studied community is 45624 kg/day (50.29tons) whereas total 16.65 million kg/annum (18356.5tons) is the estimated figure for one year. Residential sector was the leading producer with 40738 kg/day (89%) followed by commercial sector 4321 kg/day (9%) presented in **Figure 1**.

The composition of the waste generated by the studied community has different constituent elements. The average physical ingredient of municipal solid waste produced by Dir City comprised of paper (8%), organic matter (53%), plastics (12%), soil, pebbles, gravels, ashes and broken ceramic objects (23.3%) and others things (3.5%; **Figure 2**). The organic matter is one the major constituent because of the use of fresh vegetables, fruits, other food wastes, wood and leaves at household level, and kitchen remains. These results are very near to the findings of [16, 20]. Spatial analysis of results indicates that waste generation rate is highest in Rehankot followed by Shaow. High population density, monthly income and family size are the major factors of more waste generation. The commercial activities are concentrated in a narrow belt along the main road where fruit and vegetable market "*Sabzi Mandi*", hotels and restaurants are located. Therefore, it forms a separate zone of waste generated by commercial activities. Spatially, this zone is extending from north to south in city center covering the entire main market "Main Bazaar". The waste generated in Rehankot, Shaow and Main Bazaar is higher in the city whereas the outskirts are producing low waste because low income group and small to medium size families are settled there.

The major constituent of solid waste in the Dir City is organic matter (53%). The same is found in the previous studies [4, 16, 21] that municipal solid waste is dominated by organic and recyclable materials.

#### **3.2 Community perception**

Community perception on the subject of open dumping of municipal solid waste is also been investigated. The perception across the study area was different about negative outcomes of dumpling waste openly. Results indicated that most of

**135**

**Figure 1.**

environment and people.

*Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Dir City*

**S.No. Sources Average Solid Waste**

5 Parks & grounds 8

Households 3.3

Hotels 8.5 Shops 1 Fruit Market 300

Hospitals 12 clinics 1.5

Private schools 12 Govt. schools 14 Private College 7 Govt. College 14

Private 1.2 Government 3

the residents (68%) were aware of the negative consequences of solid waste open dumping. There view point was that open dumping of solid waste is polluting the environment and causing bad smell and may cause different diseases because it provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The remaining (32%) respondents were of view that there is no effect of open dumping of solid waste on health of the

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95557*

1 *Residential Area*

2 *Commercial Areas*

3 *Medical facilities*

6 *Offices*

**Table 3.**

4 *Educational Institutions*

*Sector wise average solid waste generation in (kg/day).*

*Sector wise municipal solid waste generation (kg/day).*


#### *Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Dir City DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95557*

#### **Table 3.**

*Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development*

*Solid waste generation various income groups in (kg/day).*

*Source: Field Survey September, 2020.*

**Table 2.**

about 300 kg/day.

are settled there.

**3.2 Community perception**

dominated by organic and recyclable materials.

the solid waste arising from residential, commercial, health and educational activities along with the waste collected from the streets [18]. Normally the municipal authorities manage all type of wastes dropped in the community bins located at street level in the city [19]. In the study area, Tehsil Municipal Authority (TMA) is not working properly and the residents are also disposing the wastes directly in the streets, drains, open spaces, vacant plots and river. The major source of municipal solid waste production is residential sector. The average wastes produced by commercial, educational and health sectors per day were 3.3 kg, 21 kg, 12 kg and 7 kg, correspondingly (**Table 3**). The fruit and vegetable market was generating waste of

**Income Groups Percentage Kg/day** Low income 32 1.3 Middle income 44 3.1 High income 24 5.6 Average 3.3

Results indicated that the per capita generation of solid waste is 0.37 kg/day. The total waste generated by the entire studied community is 45624 kg/day (50.29tons) whereas total 16.65 million kg/annum (18356.5tons) is the estimated figure for one year. Residential sector was the leading producer with 40738 kg/day (89%) followed

The composition of the waste generated by the studied community has different constituent elements. The average physical ingredient of municipal solid waste produced by Dir City comprised of paper (8%), organic matter (53%), plastics (12%), soil, pebbles, gravels, ashes and broken ceramic objects (23.3%) and others things (3.5%; **Figure 2**). The organic matter is one the major constituent because of the use of fresh vegetables, fruits, other food wastes, wood and leaves at household level, and kitchen remains. These results are very near to the findings of [16, 20]. Spatial analysis of results indicates that waste generation rate is highest in Rehankot followed by Shaow. High population density, monthly income and family size are the major factors of more waste generation. The commercial activities are concentrated in a narrow belt along the main road where fruit and vegetable market "*Sabzi Mandi*", hotels and restaurants are located. Therefore, it forms a separate zone of waste generated by commercial activities. Spatially, this zone is extending from north to south in city center covering the entire main market "Main Bazaar". The waste generated in Rehankot, Shaow and Main Bazaar is higher in the city whereas the outskirts are producing low waste because low income group and small to medium size families

The major constituent of solid waste in the Dir City is organic matter (53%). The same is found in the previous studies [4, 16, 21] that municipal solid waste is

Community perception on the subject of open dumping of municipal solid waste is also been investigated. The perception across the study area was different about negative outcomes of dumpling waste openly. Results indicated that most of

by commercial sector 4321 kg/day (9%) presented in **Figure 1**.

**134**

*Sector wise average solid waste generation in (kg/day).*

#### **Figure 1.**

*Sector wise municipal solid waste generation (kg/day).*

the residents (68%) were aware of the negative consequences of solid waste open dumping. There view point was that open dumping of solid waste is polluting the environment and causing bad smell and may cause different diseases because it provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The remaining (32%) respondents were of view that there is no effect of open dumping of solid waste on health of the environment and people.

The community perception concerning the causes of open dumping of solid waste was uneven. About 63% of the studied population considered that TMA employees are not working properly in residential sector. There is lack of bins at street level. Similarly, there is no one to collect waste from door to door. They just came on request and remove the waste from drains. In some places across the study area, they are unloading solid wastes from hand trolleys directly in the open spaces or in river because there is no waste dumping site. The function of District Government is also poor because the growth of population and expansion of built up land of city has been occurred but there is no improvement has been seen in management of municipal solid waste. The perception of about 37% of the respondents was that Tehsil Municipal Authority employees and residents of the area are accountable for dumping (**Figure 3**). The residents are also throwing the domestic wastes direct in the drains, streets or open spaces. The haphazard dumping is more hazardous for the community. In the study area, drains are not covered and people are throwing waste into it leading to drains obstruction. The blockage further intensifies the problem. The treatment of solid waste is relatively hard subsequent to production.

*Composition of the sample solid waste at domestic level.*

**137**

**Author details**

hold level.

Shakeel Mahmood

Department of Geography, GC University Lahore, Pakistan

provided the original work is properly cited.

\*Address all correspondence to: shakeelmahmoodkhan@gmail.com

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

*Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Dir City*

Well planned mechanism for collection and disposal is required to dump the waste in landfill site [22, 23]. Both the land filling and open dumping is causing leaching. This may pollute the fresh water resources. Polluted water is causing the accumulation of harmful substances in aquatic animals. Consequently affect the aquatic life

It is concluded from the analysis that about 89% of the solid waste is generated by residential sector. The major constituent elements of sampled wastes were organic

The related authority and departments has poor performance to manage solid waste properly because of limited available resources. Dumping in drains, open spaces, and streets is very common and most of the community is unaware of its negative consequences on environmental health and human health. Similarly, dropping the waste direct in the river is also one of hazardous activity because it pollutes river's water and may lead to aquatic life. Hazardous environmental and health impacts might be the fate residents of Dir City, if the issue is not managed properly. It is the demand of time to design solid waste management plan for Dir City in order

Municipal solid Waste management is a challenge for waste managers and dealing departments/authorities. In this regard, development of proper waste management system is highly required. It will not only reduce risk of environmental problem but also generate revenue. Alongside site suitability analysis for damping of waste is also needed. It will protect the rivers. Similarly, awareness campaigns regarding reuse, recycle and reduce strategies is also highly required at house-

negatively. In the same manner it can cause human health problem [24].

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95557*

**4. Conclusions and recommendations**

to reduce the risk environmental and health problems.

matter, plastic and paper.

*Future Prospects.*

**Figure 3.** *Community perception.*

*Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Dir City DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95557*

Well planned mechanism for collection and disposal is required to dump the waste in landfill site [22, 23]. Both the land filling and open dumping is causing leaching. This may pollute the fresh water resources. Polluted water is causing the accumulation of harmful substances in aquatic animals. Consequently affect the aquatic life negatively. In the same manner it can cause human health problem [24].
