Survey on garbage disposal conducted in Sittwe

03 Feb 2023

DMG Newsroom
3 February 2023, Sittwe

Green Network-Sittwe, a civil society organisation based in Sittwe, is conducting an opinion poll on garbage disposal in order to help solve the problems facing residents of the Arakan State capital in dumping their household waste, and to disseminate knowledge about eco-friendly garbage disposal methods.

The group is encouraging residents to dump dry and wet waste separately, and to recycle, according to project manager Ko Myo Hlaing of Green Network-Sittwe.

“We found plastic bags scattered both on the ground and in the water. Ultimately, people will suffer the consequences. In Sittwe, plastic usage is high, but residents do not know about the dangers of plastic. We are highlighting the dangers of plastic,” Ko Myo Hlaing told DMG.

The group is conducting surveys in Sittwe’s wards in an effort to calculate the amount of waste produced by households, said Ma Khin Hnin Wai, a member of Green Network-Sittwe.

“We made random visits to houses, asked about how they dump garbage, and weighed their kitchen waste. We left two bags, one for dry waste and another for wet waste. We do this for three days, and calculate the average,” she explained.

There are not enough dumping grounds in Mingan Ward, and residents have difficulties disposing of their garbage, said Ma Aye Hla, a resident of Mingan Ward.

Green Network-Sittwe said it plans to conduct similar surveys in other Arakan State townships.

The results of the survey will be published and presented to authorities, local and international nongovernmental organisations and the public. The survey is intended to improve waste management and focus greater attention on environmental conservation.

Green Network-Sittwe was founded with some 20 members in April 2019, and is focused on environmental stewardship.