An urgent shift towards waste-to-resource approaches is required in order to address the rapidly growing quantities of waste being generated in cities in developing countries. Typically, the organic fraction of solid waste in these cities averages between 51-65 per cent, with the fraction of recyclable inorganic waste averaging between 26-33 per cent. This presents a considerable and largely untapped opportunity for resource recovery.

Since 2009, in response to Asia-Pacific’s growing waste crisis, UN ESCAP, Waste Concern and partners have been building and promoting waste-to-resource facilities across Asia-Pacific. Waste-to-resource initiatives, such as composting and biogas production, offer municipalities alternative ways of treating and disposing of waste. In the early phases of such projects and initiatives, a range of critical decisions need to made. These include decisions on the capacity and location of the facility, the investment, human resources and operational requirements of the facility, and the broader business case for the initiative, in terms of products and services rendered.

To support informed decision making, at the outset of each project, ESCAP and its partners undertake a ‘Solid Waste Management Baseline Survey’ that assesses the local conditions of the city and enables project managers to ensure that a match is achieved between local needs and facility design and systems.

This baseline survey, conducted in 2012 for Ta Khmao, Cambodia, explores the city’s solid waste composition and generation rates. It also explores the waste collection systems in place in the city, at the time of assessment, the policies and institutions involved, the role of the informal sector and a range of other factors and variables.