Abstract
The appalling state of Liberia’s municipal solid waste management system (MSWM) is the motivation for this review and analysis. Solid waste management protocols and system dynamic modeling support policy development as it uses waste prevention to explain the complex waste management systems and suggests methods for effective management. However, creating an effective waste system goes beyond the formulation of policies and legislation; it involves financial and technological proficiency, skilled human capacity, technical, social, resource recycling, educational awareness programs, and active public participation. Because of urbanization, Liberia’s municipal solid waste (MSW) problems have become heightened, thereby impacting the economic, social, and political fabric of society by overburdening infrastructure and social facilities. The impact of urbanization must be addressed because urbanization, amongst several factors, including unsustainable management of MSW, degrades the environment and presents risks to public health. The purpose of this review was to highlight the current waste management activities in Liberia and provide information to the readers about the challenges facing the waste management sector and the challenges impeding the development of a sustainable waste management system. In Liberia, waste management activities are getting worse daily due to shortage of a comprehensive waste management framework, the absence of guidelines regarding the responsibilities of waste generators, and the decision-makers' lack of intent to design and implement a sustainable and integrated management system. Recommendations for collaborative efforts are made by focusing on delivering a waste strategy which concentrates on waste minimization, recycling, resource recovery, and promoting sustainable waste management practices for communities, small businesses, corporations, and government institutions in Liberia and other developing countries.
Highlights
Liberia had its first democratic transfer of power in over 70 years [1], following the election of George Weah as president in December 2017
The municipal solid waste management sector in Liberia is faced with immense challenges and growing concerns regarding the inadequacies of waste management activities in the country
This paper sought to describe the existing management practices and challenges impeding waste management activities in Liberia, provide information to the readers on the challenges posed by the development of a sustainable system for managing waste
Summary
Liberia had its first democratic transfer of power in over 70 years [1], following the election of George Weah as president in December 2017. Waste is being indiscriminately dumped on street corners and bodies of water whilst landfilling is the most used method of waste disposal in the country [33, 37, 38] This is a result of the lack of skilled technical human capacity for the development of a sustainable waste management plan; inadequate budgetary allocation for effective waste operations; a lack of adequate waste minimization facilities, sorting and storage; inadequate collection system; inadequate funds to support and establish waste management strategies; and the absence of technologies for solid waste disposal [25]. The National Environmental Policy Council of Liberia is the policy-making body of the environment, whilst the Monrovia City Corporation is
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