Sanitation Policy

The legal basis for the Municipality's authority in this area resides in the 2000/1397 Law on Municipalities. The Sanitation Policy directs the department to accomplish the specified goals and objectives of the Department. The purpose and objective of the Sanitation Policy is to make Kabul city totally sanitized, healthy, and livable, ensuring and sustaining good public health and environmental outcomes for the entire citizen with a special focus on hygienic and affordable sanitation facilities for the urban population. This policy shall cover the geographical area of Kabul City. Sanitation is defined as human excreta and sludge disposal, drainage, and solid waste management. The sanitation system shall be self-sufficient and self-sustaining, with sanitary latrines promoted by Kabul Municipality and leased out to the private sector for maintenance. The Sanitation Department shall be responsible for solid waste collection, disposal, and management, as well as setting tariffs, by-laws, and appointing staff according to their needs and in accordance with government guidelines. The role of women in the process of planning, decision-making, and management shall be promoted through their increased representation in sanitation activities. The drainage system in all districts of Kabul City shall be integrated with the overall drainage system with the coordination of the Ministry of Energy and Water. Private sector and NGO participation in sanitation activities shall be encouraged by the Sanitation Department of Kabul Municipality. Behavioral development and changes in user communities shall be brought about through social mobilization and hygiene education in alliance with the Ministries of Public Health, Education, Labor and Social Affairs, Information and Culture, Women Affairs, and other related agencies. The National Environmental Protection Agency will be consulted on solid waste management, and measures will be taken to recycle waste materials and prevent contamination of groundwater by sewerage and drainage. The Sanitation Department shall install trash cans in all parts of residential and business areas of Kabul City, collect trash from the entire trash cans to the transfer stations and from the transfer stations to the landfills, establish and maintain a schedule for trash collection, expand and improve the trash transfer station and landfills, improve the existing canalization system, and establish a standardized and integrated canalization system for Kabul City. The Sanitation Department shall also involve the urban community to keep the city streets and drainages clean and sanitized, encourage Kabul citizens to upgrade custom toilets into modern toilet systems, and maintain a close coordination with the Ministries of Public Health and Agriculture to prepare a comprehensive plan for preventing communicable disease. The policy exemptions include the responsibilities in section 4 not being applicable for the unplanned parts of Kabul city and the privately made towns in Kabul city. Special agreements shall be made with the owners of private towns and representatives of unplanned parts of Kabul city if sanitation services are provided by the Sanitation Department of Kabul City. The policy should be regularly evaluated to ensure it is enabling and effectively moving Kabul Municipality Sanitation Department towards its sustainability goal. The contents of this policy are enforceable after His Excellency the Mayor's approval.