ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES IN PAKISTAN

Abstract Solid waste generated by household, commercial and other economic consumption, solid waste handling and final destiny in the environment is very crucial, because its effect on public health can be devastating. The economic consumption behavior of consumers plays an important role in the quantity of solid waste generated. In present study, we analyzed the mode of solid waste generated by consumers and its effect on public health by using a questionnaire and recruiting 200 participants. Furthermore we determined the behavior of moderate and Israf consumers regarding solid waste generation. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of behavior of peoples and impact of Economic Consumption on Solid waste generation. Randomly selecting areas of Pakistan were explored to quantify the data about the waste generating habits, waste generation quantity and waste disposable methods by using a close-ended questionnaire. It was found that the frequency of conscious waste among participants is higher as compared to unconscious waste. It was observed that the frequency of commercial solid waste generated more as compared to household solid waste generated. The Mode of solid waste was studied in the current study and it was found that the mode of solid waste disposal frequency to hand over to collector higher as compared to burning of waste, disposal in streets openly and disposal in streets within bags. It was also found that the burning frequency of waste is more among participants as compared to throwing on dump. Frequencies of different common diseases (asthma, cholera, dysentery, eye infection conjunctivitis and COPD) were observed in the studied area to find out the association of diseases with mode of solid waste generation. It was observed that frequency of typhoid frequency is greater in overall studied area. The Present study explores the mode and behavior of waste generation is a very great risk to health and our environment. The Current study observed that household solid waste generated by moderate consumers and Israf consumer was significantly different as compared to waste generated at commercial places by moderate consumers and Israf consumers. A Positive correlation of seven types of pollution-related diseases was observed with open waste dumping resident participants.