Solid Waste Management Brief: Good Practice Case Studies
September 2023
The AMALI Urban Governance Research Lab, composed of dedicated researchers, provides participating Mayors and Governors and their teams with tailored and exclusive research and analytics to support their transformation action plans. Additionally, the lab strives to enhance access to urban governance information and relevant research reflections on African cities to support urban governance improvements across the continent.
Contents of Solid Waste Management Brief
1. Introduction pg 2
2. Challenges of SWM in African Cities pg 2
3. Benefits of SWM pg 3
4. Components of a Sustainable SWM System pg 4
5. Good Practices for Solid Waste Management: Guidelines for Decision-makers pg 4
6. Good Practices for Solid Waste Management: Selected case studies pg 6
7. Sources pg 11
1. Introduction
African cities are going through major social and economic transformations and rapidly urbanizing. As the urban populations are growing, so is their solid waste generation. With limited financial, human, and infrastructural solid waste management (SWM) resources, most cities experience many SWM challenges. Nearly half of the waste generated in Africa remains uncollected and is illegally dumped on sidewalks, open spaces, storm drains, rivers, and uncontrolled dumpsites. Uncontrolled waste disposal results in numerous socioeconomic and environmental problems such as water, land, and air pollution which threaten human and animal health and life. Uncollected waste is often burned and produces toxic gases that pollute the air, cause fires, and contribute to climate change. Indiscriminate dumping of waste results in ecological risks such as flooding and landslides and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, malaria, typhoid, dengue fever, and Zika. Moreover, poorly managed dumpsites can harbour dangerous animals and rodents which pose a danger to nearby communities. It is therefore imperative for cities to have functional and sustainable SWM systems.