As the population of Aybak, the capital of Samangan Province, grows and residential areas expand, waste management and garbage collection have become essential needs for the city. Although the Aybak Municipality says it collects household waste according to a schedule, a number of residents complain about delays in garbage collection, bad smells, and environmental pollution. They are calling for more regular services.
Mustafa Seddiqi, a 23-year-old resident of the Sarqad area of Samangan, says the garbage collection process in his neighborhood is irregular, and delays in waste removal have created problems for residents.
“The garbage collection system in our area is irregular. There is no fixed plan for municipal workers to collect the waste. Sometimes garbage is collected once a week, and sometimes it takes even longer. Bad smells from the waste, an increase in insects, and dirty streets are the main problems. This situation has made residents upset and polluted the environment. The main reasons are the lack of a regular collection plan and limited facilities at the municipality,” he adds.
Farhad Amini, another 25-year-old resident of the Karta-e Sulh area of Samangan, also says garbage should be collected at shorter intervals to prevent it from accumulating in residential areas.
“Garbage should be removed sooner and should not be left lying around. It is usually collected once a week, but it should be collected at shorter intervals to prevent it from accumulating. Delays in garbage collection cause bad smells and make people uncomfortable, especially during the hot weather. This problem makes the area dirty and bothers residents, particularly children and families,” he says.
Garbage left near shops not only creates environmental problems but also affects shopkeepers’ businesses. A number of shopkeepers say bad smells from the waste make customers uncomfortable and negatively affect their business. Momen Yousufi, a 28-year-old shopkeeper in Samangan, says:
“On some days, especially during hot weather, garbage left near the shop causes problems. When garbage remains around the shop for one or two days, it creates a bad smell and negatively affects our business. Some customers cannot shop comfortably because of this situation.”
Environmental experts warn that the accumulation of garbage in residential areas can attract insects, cause bad smells, and pollute the environment. They emphasize that waste management should not be limited to collecting and removing garbage. Public awareness and following environmental protection principles are also important. Fazul Rahman Saee, an environmental expert, says:
“When garbage remains in residential areas for a long time, the risk of some diseases spreading increases, and people’s living environment is harmed. To solve this problem, attention must be paid not only to regular garbage collection but also to raising public awareness and promoting a culture of environmental protection. The more people take part in keeping the city clean, the less environmental pollution there will be.”
On the other hand, Aybak municipal officials say that garbage is collected according to a plan. However, they say that some residents do not cooperate in keeping the environment clean, which remains a major challenge.
Abdul Bashir Noori, director of sanitation and greenery at Aybak Municipality, says the city has a door-to-door garbage collection system, with waste collected from residential areas once a week.
“Garbage is collected at night from drainage channels, culverts, and garbage bins, then taken outside the city. However, some areas still face problems because residents do not cooperate. Some people throw garbage onto roads and into drainage channels. We collect waste according to our plan, but public cooperation is essential. We need to raise public awareness, promote the slogan ‘Our City, Our Home,’ and expand public awareness programs,” he says.
Meanwhile, sanitation workers at Aybak Municipality say they continue cleaning different parts of the city and providing services despite the difficulties involved in their work. Mohammad Qasem, a sanitation worker in Aybak Municipality, describes his daily work:
“We start work at eight in the morning, but there is no fixed finishing time. Sometimes we work until four or five in the afternoon. Each day, we clean an area assigned to us by the department. We do not face any particular problems while working, but we could do a better job if residents cooperated with us. We use the necessary equipment, including vehicles, masks, uniforms, boots, and gloves. Keeping the city clean is not only the municipality’s responsibility; public cooperation is also very important.”
Local officials in Samangan say they are working to improve sanitation services by increasing oversight and expanding cooperation between residents and the relevant authorities. Mohammad Esrail Mohammadi, a neighborhood representative in Samangan, says:
“The local administration closely monitors the municipality’s work and is working to reduce existing problems with garbage collection. In coordination with the relevant authorities, we are working to improve city services, increase oversight, and expand cooperation between residents and the municipality to keep the city clean. We will also expand public awareness programs to promote a culture of environmental cleanliness.”
Urban waste management remains a major challenge for urban services across Afghanistan. As the population grows and residential areas expand, the amount of waste generated continues to increase, highlighting the need for regular garbage collection and proper disposal.
Reporter: Farahnaz Zaheri
