ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES AND EXISTING PRACTICES IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE VIENTIANE CITY : A CASE STUDY FROM LAOS

Mr. Bounsouk Souksavath, MSc. in Environmental Management, Head of International Cooperation Division, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos
P.O. Box 6869 , Vientiane , Laos, Fax: (856-21) 314-382 , Tel: (856-20) 220-9481, Email: bounsoukk@hotmail.com

Mr. Bhoj Raj Khanal. Research Associate, GMSARN Secretariat , Asian Institute of Technology, P.O.Box 4 , Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120 Thailand .
Fax: 66-2-524-5552, Tel: 66-2-524-5880 , Email: bhojrajkhanal@ait.ac.th

Keywords: Low awareness about SWM among municipality residents; lack of waste collection systems; open burning of waste without segregation; use of open dumpsites that pose health and environmental risks; and dumping of waste in the bank and tributaries of the Mekong River

Abstract

This study identifies and assesses the general practices and environmental measures on Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Vientiane, Laos, including market and non-market based instruments as well as public education and training programs used (moral suasion) in SWM. It gives policy recommendations to concerned authorities, including effective instruments to minimize the polluting behavior of individuals and industries and to recover the cost of pollution in the city. Interviews with key stakeholders, group discussions with city residents and observations of existing practices in Vientiane revealed the following problems: weak financial status of the municipality; insufficient number of staff and facilities in the municipality; open burning of waste without segregation; use of open dumpsites that pose health and environmental risks; dumping of waste in the bank and tributaries of the Mekong River; and low awareness about SWM among municipality residents. The problems are further compounded by a high rate of rural-urban migration, the uncontrolled growth of industry and businesses as well as the recent changes in the consumption patterns of the residents. To improve SWM in Vientiane, a combination of market-based instruments and suasive instruments is recommended. The results of the study may be used by policy makers and agencies involved in SWM in Vientiane as well as other small cities in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).