November 21: Managing Solid waste is an urgent problem in urban areas like Thimphu. To address the problem the Department of Urban Development and Engineering Service (DUDES) in collaboration with the Thimphu City Corporation is carrying out a national solid waste survey for the first time.


The says about 200,000 people today reside in urban areas.

This figure is expected to cross 5, 60,000 by 2020 according to the Bhutan National Urbanization Strategy.

About 90 students who have completed class 10 and 12 are carrying out the survey. Starting Saturday, November 17, these students have been visiting houses, shops and offices distributing questionnaires and disposable plastic bags. The next day, the surveyors go to collect the questionnaires and the plastic bags.

These activities are part of a national solid waste survey which is being conducted for the first time. The plastic bags are taken to a site in Babesa and segregated. The surveyors then record data on the types of waste generated.

The National survey on solid waste will be carried out in Thimphu for a week and it will move on to nine Dzongkhags.

Dechen Yangden, the Executive engineer of the Department of Urban Development and engineering services says the Survey is carried out to assess and review the current status of solid waste management in urban areas.

She said the survey will help identify issues and challenges faced by the municipal authorities in managing solid waste and to develop national waste data and indicators.

The data collection is expected to complete by the beginning of next year.

The survey is funded by Danida under Environment and Urban Sector Support Program. The funding amounts to Nu. 2.6 million.