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The richer, the filthier

13 March 2010

Mounting waste is increasingly associated with unbridled consumerism. METHO DEMA traces their relationplastic

Four years old Jigdrel Wangmo walks into a grocery store with her mother. She picks a packet of potato chips from the rack, then a packet of Wai Wai noo­dles. She ponders over which chocolate bar to choose. She picks a Dairy Milk bar, then a small pack of Frooti juice, and grins satisfactorily.

Her mother looks at her small, unhealthy assortment of packaged food, smiles and says, “Children these days.”

Jigdrel is one of thousands of urban children growing up on a wide variety of packaged foods available in the mar­ket. Besides giving rise to un­healthy dietary habits, it has significantly contributed to solid waste.

Solid waste management is a pressing issue the world over, with the two Bhutanese urban centres of Thimphu and Phuntsholing being no exception. According to an RSPN report, the generation of non-degradable waste has been increasing as a result of the steady growth in con­sumption patterns which in turn has put additional pres­sure on the few landfill sites currently in operation. A leading economist is known to have said, “Consumerism is eating the future”. It is also “shitting” in the landfill sites.

According to a study car­ried out by RSPN last year, the increase in the purchas­ing power of the Bhutanese people has led to an increase in the expenditure on food and non-food items. The monthly per capita consump­tion expenditure in 2007 was Nu 2,755 which is about 59.4 percent increase from 2003.

According to Nedup Tsher­ing, an independent con­sultant, the waste problem in Bhutan, especially in the urban centres, is due to con­sumerism culture. He said, “In the past, we used to use recy­clable or biodegradable prod­ucts, and most of the things didn’t come well-wrapped in paper or plastic. If you look at the waste dump site in Me­melakha, most of the waste is plastic, PET bottles, and card­board papers. And it is defi­nitely a sign of growing con­sumerism culture in Bhutan.”

A study by the Department of Urban Development and Engineering Services also confirms that the change in consumption pattern has led to a major change in com­position of waste. The study says that the most significant change is the substantial in­crease in paper and packaging materials which account for the second highest composi­tion of waste. It is followed by plastic, multi-material items, “consumer products” and re­lated packaging materials.

“The increase in the con­sumption of single-use prod­ucts (such as disposable dia­pers and paper/plastic cups) has brought in the “use and throw away” culture in the Bhutanese society,” says the RSPN study.

The coming of the consum­er protection bill validates the fact that consumerism culture is growing in Bhutan. Accord­ing to a former member of the drafting committee, the need to strengthen and stimulate consumers was one of the many reasons why the bill had been drafted.

According to World Bank, the greater the economic prosperity and the higher the percentage of urban popula­tion, the greater the amount of solid waste is produced. Currently, about 30.8 percent of Bhutan’s population lives in urban centres. It is estimat­ed that by 2015, the urban population will increase by 8.09 percent.

WWF estimated that if UK’s current consumption and pro­duction pattern is replicated across the globe, it would require the equivalent re­sources of three earths, while American lifestyle would re­quire five planets.

With many developing countries trying to replicate the lifestyle of these devel­oped countries, Bhutan is moving in the same direction. “If we do not educate the younger and older genera­tions about waste and how it is generated, the consum­erism culture will grow even more thanks to TV advertise­ments and billboards.

But most importantly, we need to be more conscience about this issue and be more responsible” said Nedup Tshering.

A leading environmentalist said, “Trying to reduce envi­ronmental pollution without reducing consumerism is like combating drug trafficking without reducing drug addic­tion.”

The landfill site in Memelakha, Thimphu

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Comments

5 Responses to “The richer, the filthier”

  1. Andrew Semple on March 13th, 2010 1:19 am

    Awareness of the problem leads to education and identifying social priorities.
    Right now Bhutan’s culture has not fully copied or adopted the profound mistakes of the western ‘consumer based’ culture and can still be saved from the wrong path. Thank you Observer, for shining light the real issue in a real context. The world is looking to Bhutan for leadership in this primal battle for the survival of our human species. Here is a little film that clearly illustrates the main obstacle to our existence. You may wish to introduce this film in your classrooms to help educate children with this very important aspect of GNH.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8

  2. Lars Lindgren on March 13th, 2010 7:49 pm

    I had the pleasure of visiting Bhutan a few years ago. I only wish the paradise environment and the cultural joy can be preserved while at the same time integrating the country with the rest of the world.

    Environmental challenges will be increasing as urbanisation will increase.

    Recently I was part of a very interesting project in my homecountry Sweden. We built an online simulation illustrating typical challenges that will face any city that grows. It also illustrates available solutions and examples of how to solve problems by focusing on improving both the environment and peoples happiness while at the same time doing so in a resource and cost efficient manner.

    The simulation was launched at the Copenhagen Climate Conferance and is available for free on http://www.symbiocityscenarios.com for anyone interested in learning more about the challenges associated with creating a sustainable city.

    Warm regards to all of you in Bhutan,
    /Lars

  3. tseringom on March 14th, 2010 12:52 am

    Thanks Andrew!

  4. Netra Binod Sharma on March 14th, 2010 12:31 pm

    The indiscriminate use of packaged food and food items is contributing the build-up of solid waste all over Bhutan. Timely advocacy on ill effects of piling solid wastes is the need of the hour.

    If only we become cognizant of the fact that our planet is suffering because of our consumerism will there arise a ray of hope and reason for quick action.

    Bhutan Observer has done a good job by bringing out this timely article.

  5. rabilal dhakal on March 29th, 2010 8:09 pm

    Bhutan should really ponder into the fact of increasisg consumerism and ever increasing waste in the country which has direct and immediate effect not only to the environment but to the debated GNH philosophy as well. proper implementation of rules and regulations are very much required so as to have good environment instead of the black and white show to the larger world to impress with the changed connotation.

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