Chapter 3 - Use of participatory methodologies to improve the management of urban solid waste in Sal Island—Cape Verde

Abstract

Sal Island is one of the ten islands of Cape Verde. It has 37,000 inhabitants, and tourism is its main economic sector. The present work aims to analyze the Urban Waste Management of Sal Island identifying the strengths and flaws, and presenting a proposal for improvements, in order to obtain more appropriate management. A bibliographic and documentary survey was first carried out, followed by interviews to five technicians and the town councilor for Environment, Sanitation and Green Spaces at the City Hall of Sal. A Focus Group (seven technicians) discussed the problems identified, the proposals for improvement and prioritized the priority measures to be implemented in order to validate these results. The main measures identified to be implemented in the short term were: (1) Produce legislative support for the management of all types of Urban Waste in Cape Verde; (2) Define a policy for the Urban Waste Management, in order to provide answers to all gaps, giving priority to solving problems, improving and modernizing the waste sector; (3) Elaborate and implement a waste management plan in Sal Island, which covers all stages of urban waste management; (4) Improving the fee collection of urban waste management; (5) Draw up an investment map, in order to meet all needs, according to the degree of priority; (6) Develop an environmental awareness and education plan; (7) Elaborate the design and implementation of a landfill adapted to reality of Sal Island; (8) and invest in the valorization of waste, creating a valorization center for Urban Waste. It is conceivable to improve the Sal Island’s urban waste management by the execution of the strategies suggested in this work.