Municipal Solid Waste Management Challenges and Problems for Cities in Low-Income and Developing Countries

Abstract

Solid waste management is a challenge, problem as well as opportunities for the cities' authorities in developing countries especially low-income ones mostly because of the enhancing generation of waste, the burden posed on the budget of municipalities as a consequence of the high expenses belonged to its management, absence of the perception over a variety of factors which affect the various stages of management of waste and linkage essential to provide the whole handling system functioning. The data and information provided is very beneficial for changing, implementing or planning waste management system in towns. This article brings a general overview of state of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) by domestic authorities and available condition and current challenges of solid waste management (SWM) in developing countries particularly low-income ones. In addition, approaches of feasible solution which can be undertaken to prosper municipal solid waste (MSW) services are discussed. Approximately poor economic growth of the low-income developing countries annually has resulted in a rise in the poverty levels. Besides, migration from rural zones to urban zones has resulted in an unplanned settlements in suburban areas accommodation. Furthermore political interference prevents the smooth running of the domestic authorities. Vulnerability of surface and groundwater pollution is increasing due to lack of surveillance of local authorities in considering the environmental impact in siting MSW disposal sites. Illicit dumping of MSW on the roadside or river banks demonstrates economic and environmental threats on suburb properties. There are also lack of servicing of MSW collection vehicles, poor state of infrastructure and inadequate funding and budget which fight against the optimization of MSW disposal service. The rural economy requires to be developed if the migration of rural-urban areas is to be handled. In addition, involvement of stakeholders is necessary to obtain any meaningful and sustainable municipal solid waste management. Successful usage of low-tech approaches, and the association of informal refuse scavengers and collectors exist in different Asian, African and Latin American towns. Besides, a decentralized system can help solve the apparently intractable challenges and problems of waste management in low-income developing country cities in a socially favorable, economically viable, and environmentally sound manner.

Sustainability Transitions in the Municipal Solid Waste Management Systems of Bolivian Cities: Evidence from La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra

“…Conversely, MSWM systems are underperforming in most cities in lower middle income countries, causing many negative sustainability impacts, especially in rapidly urbanizing cities [9][10][11]. In such contexts, changes in production and consumption patterns, driven by economic development, globalization and technology advancement, tend to combine with local problems (e.g., poverty, inequality, weak institutions) and prevent the improvement of MSWM systems [12][13][14].…”

Formalization of Informal Waste Pickers’ Cooperatives in Blantyre, Malawi: A Feasibility Assessment

“…Limited waste collection and treatment have contributed to air, water and land pollution [8]; unmanaged waste is responsible for harboring and spreading communicable diseases such as cholera and malaria that have claimed lives of millions [9][10][11]. Indeed, the full value costs (health, environment, etc.)…”

“…Twenty million people worldwide depend on waste picking as a livelihood while thousands more depend on recycling materials from waste for their livelihoods [15,16]. Improved waste collection and recycling rates through the formalized involvement of IWPs could help achieve many of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health, the environment and cities (SDGs 3,6,8,11,12,14,15) [3]. However, there is no certainty in how best to work with Informal Waste Pickers (IWPs) to improve their income, working conditions and efficiency in a sustainable, safe, and equitable way: cooperatives may be one such solution.…”

Repercussions of Improved Municipal Solid Waste Management on Flood Risk Reduction: The Case of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…There are many side effects that result from poor disposal of as well as haphazard dumping of MSW. These include, inter alia, communicable diseases (Babalola et al, 2010;Andrianisa et al, 2016;Zohoori & Ghani, 2017) environmental pollution (Kasala, 2014) and blockage of drainage channels to the extent of causing flooding (Sakijege et al, 2014).…”