The Dhaka city generates 3,000 tons of household and commercial waste daily, according to a survey by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

Of the total waste, household waste accounts for 2000 tons.

The Dhaka City Corporation dumps around 1380 tons of waste at its lone dumping site at Matuail in Demra while 1260 tons are dumped illegally at unidentified sites and 360 tons are recycled.

A Jica study team that conducted the survey revealed the findings yesterday at a meeting to review the progress of pilot projects on sustainable management of solid wastes of the city.

A three-member advisory committee of Jica, now in Dhaka, expressed dissatisfaction with the working system.

At the meeting, the members observed that it would not be possible for Jica to work alone on the solid waste issue without strengthening the institutional part of the DCC.

On a suggestion from the Jica study team, the DCC recently formed a separate Solid Waste Division for effective management of solid waste, but it is yet to deploy manpower in the division.

Dr K Nagayama, team leader, Jica study team, hoped that the DCC, with its highest management and technical efforts, would be able to dispose of 60 percent of daily waste by 2015, the target year of the study.

Currently, the DCC disposes of 31 percent of the total waste.

Murata Takuya, a member of the advisory committee, said community support and its active cooperation is a must to manage solid wastes properly.

Dr A Sato of Jica study team presented a report on a pilot project on

community-based solid waste management and K Urushibata presented another report on a pilot project on management information system of DCC on solid waste management.

Dr Mitsuuo Yoshida, chairman of the advisory committee, DCC Chief Executive Officer Dr MA Momen, Chief Conservancy Officer Commander Sohel Faouquie and DCC's Solid Waste Management Cell Coordinator Anwar Hossan Patwary were also present at the meeting held at the mayor's conference room at the DCC.

The study on solid waste, involving Tk 13 crore and 30 lakh, will be completedin March next year.

It will mainly focus on municipal waste that includes households and commercial waste.

The study will also provide a guideline for the management of hospital and industrial waste of the capital, according to sources.