Solid waste management in rural touristic areas in the Himalaya – A case of Ghandruk, Nepal

Solid waste management studies, in most cases, emphasize urban and suburban areas. It is imperative to include rural areas, given the shift in the volume and types of waste produced and the management methods employed. It is also crucial to apprehend the waste characteristics influenced by socioeconomic variables and environmental considerations to provide a comprehensive picture of waste management. Hence, this study was conducted in Ghandruk, Nepal, because it is a rural area with a distinct cultural identity and is the most popular tourist attraction in the Annapurna Conservation Area. The purpose of the study was to characterize solid waste stream and analyze existing waste management practices in Ghandruk. We surveyed 64 households and 15 commercial sectors (hotels and restaurants). A semi-structured questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews were adopted to acquire qualitative information. Findings revealed that solid waste generated in Ghandruk was dominated by organic fractions, which accounted for about 60% of the total waste. The daily waste generated was 261.3 g per capita, equivalent to the waste generation rate in some cities of Nepal. The study also discovered a rising proportion of recyclables, emphasizing the need for a holistic management strategy that extends beyond organic waste management as commonly practiced in rural Nepal. Open burning of non-recyclables was also a serious concern. Based on the findings, the study recommends rural areas with high tourism activities for inclusion in primary waste management research.