Solid waste management in refugee camps: a case study from Myanmar

This paper describes the solid waste management system adopted in the Internally Displaced People camps of Rakhine State (Myanmar). It analyses waste generation & composition, collection, recycling and disposal practices. Based on the data collected in the field, a technical and economical assessment of technology options proposed for waste collection was conducted. Recommendations for the improvement of the system in terms of safety of the workers, security of the equipment and efficiency of the overall system were provided. In addition, the adoption of a uniform system of collection was strongly recommended in order to replace the fragmented, uncoordinated approach that is often adopted by international agencies.