Optimizing Household Solid Waste to Resource Management in Rajshahi Metropolitan City

ABSTRACT: Urban solid waste management poses an urgent environmental and public health crisis in rapidly growing Asian cities like Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The city's explosive urbanization and limited resources have led to indiscriminate dumping and severe health hazards. This study seeks to develop sustainable strategies to transform household solid waste management, addressing critical deficiencies, exploring innovative solutions, and evaluating their environmental and health impacts. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 349 residents between January and April 2024. A structured questionnaire assessed socio-demographic attributes (age, education, household income) and waste management practices (segregation habits, disposal methods, recycling awareness, environmental impact perceptions, and willingness to adopt sustainable practices). Analysis of the responses revealed a daily waste collection rate from households (61%), a high level of awareness regarding environmental health risks (86.53%), and significant barriers to financial willingness to contribute to enhanced waste management services (34.38%). This study highlights the critical need for immediate and effective waste management interventions in Rajshahi, providing actionable recommendations to mitigate environmental degradation and protect public health. KEYWORDS: Household Solid Waste, Solid Waste Management, Waste to Resources, Renewable Energy, Hazardous Waste, Socio-economic factors, Urbanization, Public Health, Environment