Gap Assesment of Solid Waste Management (SWM) Practices and Challenges in Nine Densely Populated Cities of Nepal before and during Lockdown Due to COVID-19

The nationwide lockdown imposed to control the spread of novel coronavirus induced dramatic alterations in different sectors of the Nepalese governance including Solid Waste Management (SWM) practices. This study identifies SW collection gaps in nine major cities of Nepal, and highlights the municipal and public hearings on SW management practices before and during the lockdown with a view to emphasize the linkage between Covid-19 and SWM. It includes information on solid waste workers safety practices, collection coverage dynamics, types of vehicles operated for collection and alternative methods adopted by households to manage SW during the collection gaps. It was found that although the coverage of the collection service was similar during the pandemic, there was drastic decrease in the collection frequency leading to a collection gap of 560.58 tons/day and no proper measures were adopted in more than 50% of the households surveyed for SWM during the collection gap. The study reveals poor occupational health and safety practices among the solid waste workers due to unavailability of safety gears and equipment, in spite of being aware of the modes of transmission of the virus. The pandemic exacerbated the challenges of smooth SWM making its significance as an essential service more apparent. This highlights the need of a timely strategic emergency management framework to be developed by the government to continue the invaluable public service without any hindrance.