Kabul residents have complained about the lack of proper management in waste collection across the city. They say that the Taliban-run municipality, when cleaning drainage canals, removes garbage, mud, and other impure materials from inside the drains and leaves them piled up along the streets. According to residents, this practice causes unpleasant odors, dirtiness in the city, and an increased risk of disease outbreaks. They emphasize that the Taliban municipality must adopt a clear and organized approach to waste collection to prevent problems for pedestrians and the spread of illnesses.
At the same time, some other Kabul residents believe that people’s negligence toward maintaining urban cleanliness is the main cause of the current situation. They argue that if every individual took responsibility for keeping their homes and streets clean and cooperated with the responsible authorities, the city would have a much cleaner and healthier appearance.
Residents say that although the Taliban municipality collects the garbage a few days after removing it from the drains, it causes inconvenience to people before being transported away. They add that the unpleasant odor, the scattering of garbage across streets and alleys, the return of pollution to homes, and the growing risk of various diseases have made daily life difficult.
Takwir (pseudonym), a resident of Kabul’s District Four, says that similar practices occur in his neighborhood as well. He explains that the garbage remains in the alleys or streets for several days, and some residents pour wastewater from washing clothes or dishes onto the streets, which mixes with the garbage and creates problems for pedestrians. According to him, the smell is also extremely disturbing.
This Kabul resident adds, “A few days ago, a guest came to our house. Their child fell into the garbage. Even though we washed the child several times with clean water, their skin became irritated, broke out in rashes, and they became very ill. The bad odor from their body also did not go away. Although the municipal [Taliban] workers later pack the dried waste into bags and remove it, once it dries, its dust spreads through the entire alley or is carried by the wind back into the houses. This situation is truly distressing for both children and adults. Even those who work in nearby buildings suffer from respiratory illnesses caused by inhaling the dust.”
Darya (pseudonym), another woman who agrees with Takwir’s account, also blames the residents for this problem. She says that urban culture has not yet become established among the city’s population. “It’s unfortunate that from children to adults, everyone is careless and indifferent about this issue,” she remarks.
She adds, “It’s true that the [Taliban] municipality’s performance is poor and that it causes both inconvenience and the spread of various diseases. However, residents also play a major role in this situation, because if every household actively helped keep the drains in front of their homes clean and if our fellow citizens observed cleanliness, we would not face all this trouble.”
This Kabul resident further says, “Our problem is that everyone, young and old, has become used to this situation and pays no attention. Just look around—children and adults alike, after drinking or eating something like juice, soup, or anything else, throw the can, plastic, or paper into the drains. Everyone must take an active part in keeping our city clean.”
Meanwhile, doctors warn that such practices can lead to the spread of various diseases among both children and adults.
Dr. Abdullah Ahmadi says, “In developed countries, waste collection is always carried out by professional teams who have the necessary expertise. Nowhere in the modern world will you see garbage left on the streets or in the drains, because it causes the spread of diseases among people.”
He adds, “Some infectious diseases, especially those seen in clinics, include diarrhea, persistent stomach pain, skin conditions, and other illnesses caused by such pollution, which endanger public health. Therefore, municipalities have a duty to establish an effective and organized waste management system to protect citizens.”
With the beginning of the cold season, the practice of removing garbage from drains and leaving it along the roadsides has become one of Kabul’s serious urban problems. Residents complain about the foul smell and the risk of disease outbreaks, saying that the municipality delays garbage collection.
According to official statistics, more than 4,600 tons of waste are produced daily in Kabul, a large portion of which consists of plastic materials. The figures show that each person in Kabul generates, on average, between half a kilogram and one kilogram of waste per day.
Earlier, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) warned that the lack of proper waste and sewage management in Afghanistan threatens public health and that the country faces serious environmental challenges, including plastic pollution, deforestation, and the depletion of water resources.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
رهاسازی زبالهها در کنار سرکها؛ بیتدبیری طالبان سلامت کابل را به خطر انداخته است
