Nepal is one of the many developing countries that are facing challenges in implementing an effective waste management program. The flaws of the system have severe negative impact on health, ecosystem and urban life. The reasons underlying the problem include the lack of social awareness, as well as the lack of technical and human resources.
This master’s thesis consists of two stages. In the research phase, information about the existing waste management system is collected and analyzed. Based on the data of waste composition, the potential of recycling is emphasized.
The second stage, the design phase, focuses on developing an architectural strategy to tackle the waste management problem in Nepal. To this end, multi-functional waste management centers are proposed. These centers provide a small scale composting/segregation facility, an office and accomodations for the informal waste-pickers. These waste pickers are the biggest yet disregarded contributers to the recycling chain. Lastly, the centers include a classroom that is suitable to the government’s ever increasing waste-awareness programs. The centers are designed in Chapp Village and Kathmandu Municipality, a rural and an urban context respectively. Local building materials with low carbon footprint are used with contemporary building techniques. Moreover, the local architectural styles and the regional climate conditions have lead the design process. Besides the function, the form of the building plays an important role in changing the negative mindset of waste as an end-of-life material and waste-pickers as the untouchables of the society.