University of Bahrain

College of engineering

Department of architecture & interior design

ARCG427 Research methods in architecture

ARCG427 FINAL PAPER

Name: Kawthar Othman Buali

ID: 20155271

Section: 02

Dr. Fay Al Khalifa

Abstract:
This study identifies and analyzes the hazards associated with the urban growth and their impact on the waste
management system in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Many concerns and worries have been raised about the
potential harm caused by waste to the environment and the general health, but the risks and consequent costs
of occupational hazards in waste management have received little to no attention from the government. The
method employed in this study triangulates a qualitative research pattern. The quantitative design involves a
survey using a questionnaire that investigates the concept of municipal solid waste (MSW) management and
other related matters. Key findings from the study revealed that there aren’t any well considered plans for the
solid waste management practices in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Moreover, the citizens aren’t familiar with the
word 'solid waste management' which reveals the lack of the government's attempts to create public awareness
about such an issue.

Introduction:
“Urban growth is changing the condition of humanity and the face of the earth.” (Technology and the changing
face of humanity, 2010) [1]. Studies indicate that the first and foremost reason of high rates in urban
population growth is due to two factors: (1) Natural increase in population (births), and (2) International
migration to urban areas. “Urban population has been increasing and it is estimated to reach 70% of the total
population in the world by 2050.” (UN DESA | United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
2019) [2]. Generally, human activities create waste, and the way these wastes are handled, stored, collected
and disposed of, can pose high risks to the environment and to public health, if not done properly. Regions like
urban centers, where the concentration of human activities is intense, require appropriate and safe solid waste
management (SWM) systems, to allow for a healthy living condition for the residents and future population.

When failed to contain and manage solid wastes properly, they can pose an enormous environmental threat to
large cities, even more specifically to developing countries (Kanat, 2010) [3]. As such, the need to develop
alternative methods of managing municipal solid wastes (MSW) such as composting, separation, and recycling
have been used adeptly to meet these growing concerns (Haque et al., 2000; Kanat et al., 2006; Nunan, 2000)
[4]. Despite such alternative methods, however, situations within countries vary due to different parameters
which may cause certain effects on such activities; thereby causing more difficulties which may expand the
extent to which these concerns are to be addressed. Therefore, the aim of the current research is to examine
how the urban growth affects the waste management in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and what are the benefits
that can be achieved of solid wastes.

Literature Review:
The term ‘wastes’ according to Tchobanoglous et al., (2002) [5], is described as the discarded tangible
products of the human activities that are regarded as unwanted and useless. Nevertheless, despite such belief
about these materials, wastes can be reused, and they can become a source of energy production, if they are
managed wisely and properly.

In urban developing countries, however, the solid waste management (SWM) is a very complex process that
presents challenges and conflicts, especially at present because of the countless elements that have added
restriction as well as difficulties to the process. Globally, the per capita amounts of municipal solid waste
(MSW) generated on daily basis varies significantly from one country to another. Economic standing is one
primary determinant on how much solid waste a city produces daily (World Resources Institute, 1996) [6].

Typically, one to two thirds of the solid waste generated is not collected (World Resources Institute, et al.,
1996) [6]. As a result, the uncollected waste, which is often likewise mixed with human and animal excreta, is
dumped mindlessly in the streets and in drains, hence, contributing to flooding, breeding of insect and rodent
vectors and the spread of diseases (UNEP-IETC, 1996) [7]. The inability of man to deal indecisively with these
wastes has created both environmental and health problems (Bradshawet al,1992) [8]. As a matter of fact, if
wastes are not being treated in the correct way, they could cause many harmful problems to the environment,
the health of the citizens and to the ozone layer as well.

As of 2000, about 226 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) were generated each year in the United
States. This total works out to be over 1600 lb per year per person (4.5 lb per person per day). The amount of
municipal solid waste (MSW) generated each year has continued to increase on both a per capita basis and a
total generation rate basis. In 1960, per capita generation was about 2.7 lb per person per day and 88 million
tons per year. By 1986, per capita generation jumped to 4.2 lb per person per day. The waste generation rate is
expected to continue to increase over the current level to a per capita rate of about 4.6 lb per person per day
and an overall rate of 240 million tons per year by 2005 (Sanitarac.pro, 2019) [9].

The well-organized management of waste has turned out to be one of the most important problems of our
current time because of the concerns about the lifestyle, protection of the environment and public health.
Municipal solid wastes (MSW), is now the focus of many existing researches worldwide, and are specifically
defined as the wastes coming from private households collected by local authorities from any available source
(Strange, 2002) [10]. Moreover, Municipal solid wastes (MSW), is depending on the existing structure of the
municipality, the state or of the country itself.

With reference to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the municipal solid wastes (MSW) include the residential,
commercial, institutional, construction and demolition, municipal services, public areas, treatment plant sites,
industrial, and agricultural wastes. Traditionally, wastes are recognized as the unessential to production and
are therefore only managed when the demands to resolve the problem is greater than the expediency of
disposal (Seadon, 2010) [11].Waste management has long been under a set of reasons and therefor has
resulted to a number of unpractical ways of dealing with the increasing number of waste because of the high
rate of urban population with the decreasing strategies of waste management systems. As such, sustainability
is one factor that has not been met efficiently, as reflected in the researches that have reviewed waste
management systems all around the world.

The factor of sustainability, which is often more enclosed in the phrase: “sustainable development” carries the
following widely-known definition by the Brundtland Commission (1987) which states that “sustainable
development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs”. [12] This definition therefore sets the foundation that systems
created for the benefit of today’s environment must be well planned with a strict vision and goal that reaches
out to the advantage of the future generations as well. Municipal solid waste management systems must
therefore address not only the present complexities and underlying conditions but must also negotiate a long-
term efficiency.

The current municipal solid waste management systems in the country are carried out through waste
collection and disposal at the existing landfill site located in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. A total of 659,847
tons of wastes are generated in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This is expected to increase as the population
increases. With further reference to the population of the country, an estimated of 1.4 kg of wastes are
proportioned to every person living in the country. The most dominant component of these wastes are
domestic in nature, accumulating to about 45% of the total while further data reveals that commercial wastes
are consequently increasing due to rapid urbanization taking place within the country. These increases are
therefore reflective of more complexities that may arise as the country continues to solve the existing
problems within its waste management systems [13].

Owing to the importance of the topic, there has been significant research done and a large number of
literature published about waste management systems around the world. That being said, it is also noted that
not much of this is based on the Arab countries, or on the Kingdom of Bahrain in particular. This paper,
therefore, attempts at filling these gaps in the literature.

(only till here can be counted as “literature review” coz they are things you have read and researched. The
following paragraphs are not based on existing literature, they are your own words and ideas. I’m not sure
that’ll be taken as part of literature review. If possible, add some more from what you’ve read, with references,
since its only about 930 words. The three paragraphs below sounds more like the “Applications” part.)

Waste management in urban areas plays a very important role, given that waste is generated from urban
areas are often exported out of the region for processing and treatment, and the impacts of waste disposal
activities may pass on to the other authorities, and even to the next generations.

An urban system cannot be sustainable if it requires more resources than it can produce on its own and
generates more wastes than the environment can handle. The current waste management practice, which
focuses on short term impacts and end-of-pipe solutions, is reactive in nature and under-qualified to promote
sustainability within the urban systems, across jurisdictions, and across generations.

Through material flows in and out of urban systems, many potential opportunities exist to reduce waste
generation and to minimize the negative impacts on the environment, the economy, and the society. City
planner’s involvement in waste management, however, has been largely limited to siting waste management
facilities. Linking waste management with three important lenses in planning land use, economic
development, and environmental planning, this study investigates the impacts of urban growth on waste
management activities, the need of transforming the reactive nature of current waste management, and the
challenges and opportunities that planners should address to promote urban systems self-reliance of material
and waste management needs. THE GAP?

This study targeted

This study includes three empirical analyses to complement theoretical discussions. First, it will connect
waste statistics with demographic data, geographic characteristics, and policy instruments at the country
level which will examine whether waste volume can be decoupled from urban population growth. Second, it
will elaborate the life cycle costs of different waste management options and therefore developing a
simulation study to seek cost-effective strategies for long-term waste management. Lastly, this study will
compile evidence of geographic-specific characteristics related to waste management and demonstrate why
waste management policies cannot be one-size-fit-all. Accordingly, this study illustrates the potential
opportunities for planners to contribute to community-specific waste management programs, the prospect of
transforming waste management practice from a cost burden to a long-term economic development strategy,
and the need to incorporate waste management into the sustainable urban planning program.

The original aim of regulating waste disposal is to reduce the introduction of polluting substances into
the atmosphere since protection of the environment is a major challenge facing developing countries
such as Kingdom of Bahrain

Objectives:
The main goal of this paper is to study the current practices related to the various waste management actions
taken in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The objective of any informal enterprise should be to minimize the amounts of unwanted products or by-
products to reduce impact on human health and the environment (Arena U,2015) [14].

Therefore, the objectives of writing this paper include mainly, to come up with some policies that will be
reflecting on clear and comprehensive studies that have explored the current situation of solid waste
management in the country, thereby pushing for a more effective waste management system that will lead to
forming a strong Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) plan, which will further help finding out the
scope for improvement in the management of waste for the welfare of the society. Secondly, this paper aims at
finding out the need for creation of policies that address waste management, not only according to collection,
transportation and disposal facilities but also to consider policies on segregation, recycling and resource
recovery. The third objective is to provide some suggestions and recommendations to improve the waste
management practices and encourage the residents to start recycling. The paper also aims at enhancing
environmental awareness in the community.

Applications: 150
There are various methods used to conduct this study

Methodology:
The purpose of this study is initially aimed at evaluating the current solid waste management (SWM) system
in the Kingdom of Bahrain, along with the factors that have led to the difficulties of its efficient facilitation.
Moreover, it will be sought to develop an Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) plan which will address
the growing concerns on the environment, public health and other hazards posed by the current solid waste
management (SWM) System. In order to achieve a full study and analysis of the current waste management
system in the country, several procedures were carried out such as content analysis of available literature,
observation methods, household surveys, and interviews with waste generators and managers, all throughout
the country.

The quantitative method used in this study was adopted through a questionnaire survey which was aimed at
acquiring the perspectives and feedback of the citizens from different provinces within the country regarding
the current systems of solid waste management and other related matters. This part of the research was
based on a random sample of 18 across different age groups and genders. The questionnaire was distributed
randomly throughout the five provinces of the Kingdom of Bahrain: Manama, Muharraq, Central, Southern
and Northern.

The questionnaire used in the survey helped to measure and evaluate the existing municipal waste
management system in the Kingdom of Bahrain which revealed the satisfaction levels of residents regarding
the municipal waste storage, collection and transportation within the various locations.

Results:
Results of the questioner investigation have revealed several points that need to be taken into account within
the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain about the concept of municipal solid wastes (MSW) management and
other related matters.

Potential factors related to municipal solid waste regeneration were the main result of the content analysis
method; resulting to the evaluation of variables that had somehow affected trends within the (MSW)
management system of the country.

The first question was the about the concept of the municipal solid waste (MSW) management which showed
that around 61.11% of the surveyors have no idea about it and they have never even heard about it before and
that’s because there are no engorgement from the government nor enough advertisements about it in the
newspapers or the social media networks which proves to be wrong owing to the fact that these are serious
matters that need to be handled and known very well.
The charts shown below (figure number) show that the people are willing to support and use a proposed
Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) plan, for the benefits of what it might stand for and give.

The benefits therefore, of proposing a strong Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) plan will reflect on
lower costs of management, less environmental pollution, raised awareness among residents, less health
hazards, better cost management, higher cost recovery and finally a better image of the country.

The responses received for questions (add question numbers), depicted below show that the people are
already using some of the waste management practices such as recycling, and that’s illustrated how eager are
they in helping their environment their country.

References:
Conclusion:
With such an integrative proposal developed within this study, the researcher highly recommends that it to be
considered for future planning of waste management systems in the country. It is apparent that decisions on
how to manage waste growth within cities and countries worldwide is increasingly growing in difficulty, as
such, the need to address the issue as soon as possible is a need to be met by both public and private sectors
as well. Also, there should be more advertisements about how serious this matter is and how dangerous it is
to the environment and public health.

The proposed of the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) therefore holds a framework that has been
studied, evaluated and analyzed for the waste management in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

References:
1- Technology and the changing face of humanity. (2010). Choice Reviews Online, 47(12), pp.47-6827-47-
6827.

2- UN DESA | United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2019). 68% of the world
population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, says UN | UN DESA | United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs. [online] Available at:
https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-
urbanization-prospects.html [Accessed 27 Apr. 2019].

3- Kanat G (2010). Municipal solid-waste management in Istanbul. Waste Manage., 30: 1737-1745

4- Kanat G, Demir A, Ozkaya B, Bilgili MS (2006). Addressing the operational problems in a composting
and recycling plant. Waste Manage., 26: 1384-1391.

5- Tchobanoglous, G. and Kreith, F. (2002) Handbook of Solid Waste Management. 2nd Edition, McGraw
Hill Handbooks. New York.

6- World Resources Institute, United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Development
Programme, The World Bank, 1996. World Resources 1996-97 - The Urban Environment, Oxford
University Press, Oxford.

7- UNEP-IETC, HIID, 1996. International Source Book on Environmentally Sound Technologies for
Municipal Solid Waste Management, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International
Environmental Technology Centre (IETC).

8- CHATI, T. (2012). DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN GHANAIAN TOWNS; A

CASE OF SABOBA, NORTHERN REGION. [online] www.academia.edu. Available at:
https://www.academia.edu/2760535/SOLID_WASTE_MANAGEMENT_IN_GHANAIAN_TOWNS_A_CAS
E_OF_SABOBA_NORTHERN_REGION [Accessed 27 Apr. 2019].

9- Sanitarac.pro. (2019). [online] Available at: https://sanitarac.pro/wp-

content/uploads/2017/07/Solid-Waste-Management.pdf [Accessed 27 Apr. 2019].

10- Strange K (2002). Overview of waste management options: Their efficacy and acceptability. Issues
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11- Seadon JK (2010). Sustainable waste management systems. J. Cleaner Prod., 18: 1649-165.

12- Fig.net. (2019). Koh. [online] Available at:

https://www.fig.net/resources/proceedings/fig_proceedings/korea/full-papers/session21/koh.htm
[Accessed 27 Apr. 2019].

13- Ministry of State, Municipalities and Environmental Affairs (2002). National Report to the World
Summit on Sustainable Development. Bahrain: MSMEA.

14- Arena U. From waste-to-energy to waste-to-resources: the new role of thermal treatments of solid
waste in the Recycling Society. Waste Management. 2015;37:1–2. doi:
10.1016/j.wasman.2014.12.010.