CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

Background of the study One of the most basic abilities of human beings is to classify and categorize objects and information into simpler schema, such that we can characterize the objects within the groups in total rather than having to deal with each individual object. (http://uir.unisa.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10500/1458/thesi
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In a developing country, the problems associated with solid waste management are more acute than in a developed country. Lack of financial resources and infrastructure to deal with solid waste creates a vicious cycle; lack of resources leads to low quality of service provision which leads to fewer people willing to pay for said services, which in turn further erodes the resource base and so on. The problem is further complicated by rapid growth in population and urbanization, which adds greatly to the volume of waste being generated and to the demand for waste retrieval service in municipal areas. However, more often than not, an increase in population is not matched with an equal increase in revenue for the local municipalities for waste management. Besides this, rapid urbanization means rapid growth of shanty dwelling units that are largely unplanned for, and add to the waste, health, and hygiene problems. Another significant factor that contributes to the problem of solid wastes in a developing country scenario is the lack of proper collection and transportation facilities. Improper planning coupled with rapid growth of population and urbanization serves to add congestion in streets, and as a result the waste collection vehicles cannot reach such places, thus allowing filth to build up over time. Lack of monetary resources, at times, results in improper or no transportation vehicles for waste disposal adding another dimension to the ever rising cycle of problems. In any developing country, the