Urban solid waste management in Tanzania Issues, concepts and challenges

Abstract

Urban solid waste in Tanzania in general and in Dar es Salaam city in particular, is a serious environmental problem. Concurrent with recent socioeconomic development, coupled with liberalization of the economy and rapid population growth, the quantum of solid waste generated has increased at a rapid rate. The manner in which urban solid waste is managed in Dar es Salaam directly affects the metropolitan environment, the appearance of the city and the citizens day-to-day life. Hence, a special priority is attached to Dar es Salaam's solid waste management. The existing critical dimensions in the management of solid waste are scavenging, privatization, arresting environmental effects of waste disposal and institutional capacity building. A conceptual framework based on application of sustainability to waste prevention, utilization and recycling for urban solid waste management is proposed. The most appropriate waste management principles seem to be organized scavenging, followed by biological waste utilization and sanitary landfilling. The paper suggests several urban solid waste management challenges based on issues and principles analyzed and discussed.