Improper Solid Waste Management Research Articles

Perceived social, economic, environmental and health effects of solid waste management practices in logia town, afar, ethiopia

Improper solid waste management in urban and semi-urban areas has led to adverse impacts on the environment, public health, and the economic well-being of communities. Therefore, this study analyzes the status of household solid waste management practices and their effects in Logia Town, Afar, Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, the study utilizes both descriptive and econometric models (binary logistic regression model). The descriptive results of the study revealed that there is general awareness of the importance of solid waste management (SWM) and its impact on the environment, economy, and human health among the respondents. Regarding respondents’ attitudes, the majority of households understand the responsibility of proper waste disposal and its impact. However, in terms of solid waste management practices, 80% of households do not properly segregate their waste, 59.3% do not separate solid waste (SW) before disposal, and 74% of households engage in improper disposal practices. About 95.9% of respondents were aware that improper waste management can lead to diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera. Around 65% of the sampled households considered solid waste as a source of wealth, and, as a result, 56% of them reuse, recycle, and reduce waste. This indicates that solid waste has economic value for society. Regarding the environmental impact of SW, about 89% of respondents argued that SW adversely affects the environment by polluting rivers, lakes, wells, and air. This environmental impact negatively affects the well-being and economic status of the community. The binary logistic regression model found that having adequate solid waste landfills, access to door-to-door solid waste collection, knowledge of SWM rules and regulations, treating waste as a resource, and understanding the 3Rs (recycle, reuse, reduce) had positive and significant effects on the adoption of proper solid waste management practices in the study area. Therefore, to reduce undesirable effects and improve the value of SW, the relevant authorities should provide adequate solid waste landfills and door-to-door collection services, create awareness about SWM rules and regulations, and promote knowledge of the 3Rs.

Assessing Health and Environmental Risks: Educational Awareness on Plastic Usage and Solid Waste Disposal in Bahawalpur

The review paper explores the increasing challenges posed by plastic pollution and improper solid waste management in Bahawalpur. The population has continued to increase, and there is ever-increasing urbanization; this has contributed to the increase in plastic and solid waste production, such as the single use of plastic bags and bottles. These waste materials contribute to environmental degradation, affecting soil quality and contaminating water systems. Improper disposal contributes to public health challenges like respiratory and waterborne diseases and vector-borne ailments like malaria and dengue fever. A fully equipped waste management framework is needed to solve more problems in Bahawalpur; this leads to a filled drainage system, urban flooding, and the discharge of hazardous wastes. The review also explains the level of community health education used to ensure sustainable waste management practices are practiced. Hence, the paper encourages the involvement and expansion of community-based programs and public or private-founded collaboration to support and practice recycling and the appropriate management and minimization of single-use plastics. Smart solutions are also briefly touched upon as potential solutions, including implementing waste-to-energy plants and smart bins. Consequently, this review calls for enhanced stewardship, more specific to public sensitization against further pollution of Bahawalpur and other similar urban settings by plastic and solid waste.

Impacts of solid waste management strategies in urban high density suburbs: a case of Amaveni suburb, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe

Improper solid waste management is one of the causes of environmental and health problems in many cities worldwide. It is in this context that the study aimed to determine the solid waste management strategies used in Amaveni suburbs in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe and assess the health and environmental problems associated with the solid waste management strategies used in Amaveni. Researchers used a mixed method design in which quantitative and qualitative data was collected at the same time. Semi –structured interviews, field observations and questionnaires were used to collect data. The sample comprised 380 Amaveni residents, 3 Kwekwe City employees and one Environmental Management Agency (EMA) official. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically while quantitative data was analyzed using inferential statistics. Open dumping and open burning were the dominant solid waste management strategies in Amaveni. The main health problems identified were cholera and malaria. Air pollution, water pollution and loss of urban beauty were the main environmental problems identified. From the findings it can be concluded that solid waste management strategies used in Amaveni were associated with many health and environmental problems and as a result sustainable solid waste management was proposed.

Integrated Management of Hazardous Solid Waste in Dental Offices of Talara (Peru) and Machala (Ecuador): A Policy Brief Comparing Two Latin American Countries

Background The improper management of hazardous solid waste in dental care offices poses significant risks to public health and the environment. Dental offices generate hazardous waste, including biological and chemical contaminants, which can lead to infections, pollution, and harm if not managed properly. Effective waste management practices are crucial, yet compliance varies significantly across regions, especially in Latin America, due to limited resources, inadequate training, and insufficient infrastructure. This study compares hazardous waste management practices in dental offices in Talara, Peru, and Machala, Ecuador, to provide actionable recommendations for improvement. Policy and Implications In Peru, hazardous waste management involves critical steps such as conditioning, segregation, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal. Compliance minimizes exposure risks and environmental contamination. Ecuador emphasizes administrative and operational aspects, including policies, records, training, and procedures. Improving practices in both countries can model enhanced waste management across Latin America. Recommendations To address challenges in Talara and similar Latin American cities, it is essential to strengthen administrative systems, increase budget allocations for waste management, and develop comprehensive training programs. Waste management should be prioritized within public policy agendas with clear guidelines and accountability measures. Both cities need improved resource allocation, modern waste treatment facilities, and centralized storage solutions. Continuous education and certification programs are crucial. Implementing integrated policies, regular reviews, and robust compliance mechanisms based on Machala’s practices can benefit other regions. Public awareness campaigns and regional collaboration through workshops and research initiatives are also recommended. Conclusions Significant disparities in hazardous waste management exist between Talara and Machala. Talara requires strengthened systems and improved infrastructure, while Machala’s practices serve as a model. Tailored interventions can enhance public health and environmental outcomes across Latin America. Regular monitoring, evaluation, and collaboration are essential for sustained improvements.

Analyzing the Evolution of Research on Student Awareness of Solid Waste Management in Higher Education Institutions: A Bibliometric Perspective

Improper solid waste management (SWM) has resulted in an environmental and epidemiological catastrophe, emphasizing the urgency of SWM due to escalating solid waste generation. Over the past few decades, there has been significant growth in publications studying the relationship between SWM and the environment. Higher education institutes (HEIs) also have a social responsibility to promote public understanding of SWM and to increase awareness among students about SWM. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to provide an overview of research on student awareness of SWM in HEIs over the past 35 years. Data on publication output are identified based on the Scopus database (from 1989 to 2024). A total of 634 articles on SWM awareness and practices among students in HEIs were identified. VOSviewer was used to map the current studies and visualize the current trends in this area. The analysis of keywords used in the publications highlights recurring terms such as “recycling”, “environmental awareness”, and “waste management”, indicating the primary research focus. The results show a significant increase in publications in this area over the last 35 years. China, the US, and the UK emerge as the countries with the highest number of publications with 115, 82, and 44 publications, respectively, where China alone contributed 18.14% of the total publications on the topic, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University being the leading institutions in this research field. The results also highlight the top researchers in the field of student awareness of SWM in HEIs. It identifies influential journals in this field, such as Sustainability (MDPI) and the Journal of Cleaner Production (Elsevier). Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the current state of research on student awareness of SWM in HEIs, identifying research hotspots. It serves as a valuable resource for academics and practitioners interested in this area. The findings of the study are intended to guide researchers planning to conduct further research on the issue.

Microplastic contamination in Ashtamudi Lake, India: Insights from a Ramsar wetland

Estuaries function as temporary storage sites for plastic debris, influencing the distribution of microplastics (MPs) across ecosystems. This research delves into the presence of MPs in the water, sediment, fish, and shellfish of Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar wetland with brackish water located on the southwest coast of India. Given the lake's significance in supporting the livelihoods of numerous fishers and acting as a vital source of fishery resources for both local consumption and export, examining the contamination of the system by MPs becomes particularly pertinent. The highest percentage composition of MPs was found in macrofauna at 60.6% (with fish at 19.6% and shellfish at 40.9%), followed by sediment (22.8%) and water (16.7%). The primary types of MPs identified in all samples were fibers (35.6%), fragments (33.3%), and films (28%), with beads being the least represented at 3.03%. ATR-FTIR and Raman spectra analysis identified five polymers from shellfish (polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, nylon, and polyvinyl chloride), five from fish guts (nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, and polysiloxane), four in sediment (polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, rayon), and four in water samples (polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, and polystyrene). SEM-EDAX analysis of MPs obtained from the samples revealed degradation and the presence of inorganic elements such as Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, K, Cl, P, and Ca, as well as heavy metals like Pb, Mo, Rh, Pd, Ti, and Fe. The existence of these plastic polymers and heavy metals in microplastic samples poses a threat to vulnerable biota; people consume contaminated fish and shellfish, underscoring the importance of monitoring MPs in lake water. This investigation of MPs in Ashtamudi Lake highlights the system's susceptibility to plastic pollution and the bioavailability of smaller MPs to aquatic organisms. Identified sources of MPs in the lake include fishing and aquaculture activities, sewage pollution, improper solid waste management in lake watersheds, and unsustainable tourism. Upstream and downstream management interventions are recommended to address MP pollution in Ashtamudi Lake.

Exploring Household Composting as an Effective Solution for Urban Waste Management

Organic wastes are generated from many sources’ compiles, solid waste, food, kitchens wastes, etc. Disposal of solid waste is stinging and widespread problem in both urban and rural areas in many developed and developing countries. Collection and disposal of solid waste is one of the major problems of urban environment in most countries worldwide today. Improper Solid Waste Management causes many environmental problems. Traditional composting methods have been common practices in many rural/sub urban areas and requires more time for complete degradation. Traditional method requires large sites for disposal, which nowadays is not possible, as limited spaces are available in the cities. So, here comes the need to find new techniques such as Home Composting. The research focuses on understanding the effectiveness of household composting as a waste management technique for household garbage. Household composting is an attractive method in which small bins can be used as an alternative to composting sites to a small scale. This technique helps to decompose the organic matter in lesser time than the traditional methods. Addition of compost accelerators in the bins increases the decomposition rate. Simply by home composting, the quantity of waste can be reduced. Key Words: Solid Waste Management, Composting, Compost Accelerators, Home Composting, Household Garbage

Assessment of pluvial flood events based on monitoring and modeling of an old urban storm drainage in the city center of Yangon, Myanmar

Pluvial flooding is a critical issue in cities worldwide, particularly in lowland areas with old and deteriorating drainage systems. The primary driver of pluvial flooding is extreme rainfall; other drivers include urbanization, inadequate drainage systems, improper solid-waste management, and the tidal backwater effect. However, the interplay between these drivers makes predicting pluvial floods difficult and complex. Previous studies in developing countries seldom used water-level data or simulation modeling to identify the causes of pluvial flooding. In this study, rainfall data and water-level variations in an open channel drain and a receiving river controlled by sluice gates were collected and evaluated in detail to investigate pluvial flooding events. To predict these events, we generated a hydrodynamic model using InfoWorks ICM and verified its results using water logger data and official field reports. Analysis shows that drainage-system failures due to solid blockage and receiving water-level variation contribute more to pluvial flood occurrence than heavy rainfall. Lastly, we discuss measures to mitigate pluvial flooding in Yangon, Myanmar. The proposed monitoring and modeling approach can suitably predict pluvial flooding occurrence and provide useful quantitative data for flood risk management.

IMPACT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT IN DINAJPUR MUNICIPAL AREA

Waste creates a detrimental impact on the sustainable environment. The solid waste management practice is in jeopardy in Bangladesh. In this regard, judicial management practices of solid waste are significantly important for the protection of a sustainable environment. The present study is focused on the impact of solid waste management practices on sustainable livelihood in the Dinajpur municipal area. In Dinajpur, 12 tons of solid waste was generated every day. Most of the waste was generated from households (80%) and the rest of the waste was generated from commercial activities and hospitals (5%), restaurant and institution activities (10%), and industries (5%). The maximum number of respondents (42%) threw their waste in open areas such as fields in their neighborhoods. It was found, 65.25% of community people suffered from Diarrhea, 18.47% suffered from Typhoid, 8.44% suffered from Malaria and 3.28% suffered from Jaundice due to the improper management of municipal solid waste. The majority of the respondent (70%) suffered from dirtiness, bad smell, and mosquito problems due to improper waste management. In the Dinajpur municipal, suitable solid waste management can be practiced which can lead to a healthy environment.

Current Scenario of Solid Waste Management in Raju Colony, Balanagar

Municipal solid waste management is one of the major environmental concerns globally. Improper management of Municipal solid waste poses a severe threat to all living beings and also to the surrounding environment. Various studies reveal that about 90% of Municipal Solid Waste is due to improper management of open dumping sites and landfills, creating severe problems to public health and the environment. Rapid population growth, Urbanization, industrialization and lack of awareness among people are the major drawbacks for enormous quantities of solid waste generation. An attempt has been made to comprehensively review waste characteristics, generation, collection, transportation, treatment & safe disposal methods of MSW practiced in Hyderabad City. Daywise activities pertaining to MSW have been carried out in order to evaluate the present existing status & to identify the major problems pertaining to it. Hence various methods used for MSW treatment are critically reviewed along with their merits & limitations.

Improper solid waste management at the Duala market, Monrovia-Liberia

The population of Monrovia is increasing accompanied by rapid urbanization. Due to rapid urbanization, economic development, higher living standards, and changes in consumption patterns and lifestyle, the generation rate of waste has increased. Mismanagement of solid waste tends to hinder any progress toward environmental sustainability. This study endeavored to determine Improper Solid Waste Management at the Duala Market, Monrovia-Liberia examines the connection between population growth, economic development, and the rise in waste production. The study evaluated behavioral factors on a qualitative and quantitative level, including knowledge, attitude, and practices of solid waste management, stakeholder collaboration, and obstacles to sustainable waste management in Monrovia. To display the various socioeconomic groups in the city, households were chosen at random (simple and stratified). The key findings revealed socio-demographic (70%) Waste generated are inadequately disposed of by female, as a result of the large fragment of waste that is still not collected, waste is dumped and burned in the open. followed by intervention to reduce improper waste management accounts (40%) which need public awareness and factors leading to improper waste management accounts (30%), not cognizant of the waste management area. These waste management challenges have become heightened because of insufficient technology to ensure proper management and low budgetary allocations for effective waste management.

Penalty Point System (PePS) Adaptation for Solid Waste Assessment in Cross River State, Nigeria

Waste generation in major urban centres in Nigeria appears to be on the increase due to increased consumption occasioned by rapid urbanization. Unfortunately, appreciable efforts are only being made in few urban areas with regards to monitoring this occurrence for the purpose of control and sanitation planning. This paper adapted and applied the novel Penalty Point System (PePS) as a methodology to investigate environmental pollution consequences of solid waste in Nigeria, using Calabar municipality, Cross River State as a case study. The objectives were to demonstrate the use of Penalty Pont System (PePS) as a tool for pollution (solid waste) assessment, unravel the environmental pollution consequences of improper solid waste management in Calabar Municipality, investigate various systems of solid waste disposal and management in Calabar Municipality, determine the relationship that exists between solid waste disposal problem and environmental sanitation and render viable recommendations for the purpose of reduction in the amount of solid waste generated and the need for proper management. Data for the study included a catalogue of the number of waste dumps in drainage systems and uncollected waste sites as well as responses to 200 copies of administered questionnaire. The penalty point system was used to allocate penalties to the defaulting locations for uncollected waste sites and dump-in drainages. It was discovered that Akim and Big Qua earned the highest penalty points of 120 each, amounting to 40 percent of the study area. This attribute clearly qualifies both districts as the poorest with regard to urban environmental sanitation. Further analysis was done using the Chi-squate statistics. Findings show that solid waste management system has a great effect on the quality of the environment that is possible in urban areas. It was therefore recommended that as a long-term measure, the government should enforce, support and sustain environmental education which is needed to promote manufacturing technologies that would enhance the production of consumer goods using low waste-generating practices.. Again, the government should provide access roads that are free from surface damage.

Perception and practices of solid waste management among adults in households and commercial establishments of villages under a sub centre, Bangalore urban district: a mixed methods study

Introduction: Solid waste management in rural areas is laced with many challenges which involve multiple stakeholders. Objective was to explore the perspectives and practices of adults regarding solid waste management in households and commercial establishments of villages under a sub-centre, Bangalore Urban district. Methods: A mixed method study (Quantitative and Qualitative) was conducted at a sub-centre area which caters to 10 villages of Bangalore urban district, Karnataka over a period of two months (January 2019 to February 2019). Quantitative data was collected from 200 adult participants while for the qualitative part a total of 2 FGDs and 10 IDIs were conducted. Results: Mean age of the participants was 40.2±14.7 years and majority (83%) of them were female. Mean perception score of the participants was 6.7±2.4 out of a total of 14. The most commonly reported disposal methods were burning (51.5%) followed by dumping in open spaces (48%). Majority (96.5%) were willing to keep the streets clean, 53% were willing to segregate waste or compost (49%). Although the participants were aware of harmful effects of improper management of solid waste on environment and health, good practices were inadequate. Scarcity of appropriate dumping sites, lack of transportation facilities of waste to the dumping site and non-co-operation among the residents emerged as the barriers in solid waste management. Conclusions: Lack of land availability and social consciousness among the villagers played a major role in solid waste management. Addressing this issue demands a intersectoral co-ordination with interventions directed at empowering the villagers and local bodies and enhancing their involvement in proper waste management.

Policy analysis on municipal solid waste management in Dhaka South City Corporation, Bangladesh: A qualitative study

Background: Inadequate and improper municipal solid waste (MSW) management is one of the significant reasons behind the environmental deterioration in Bangladesh. The projected daily waste generation for 2025 in Dhaka City is 47,665 tons, half of which remains uncollected despite door-to-door community-based waste collection. There are few studies on MSW management in Bangladesh, most focusing on household-level waste management, measurement of the amount of MSW, etc., but none applied a political economy lens to examine the policy issues related to MSW management. This study aimed to explore the context, actors, and processes regarding MSW management of policies in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, applying the policy-triangle-framework. Methods: This study adopted an exploratory qualitative approach, and document reviews and key informant interviews were conducted from September 2016 to January 2017. Results: We found that the issue of MSW slowly entered the policy documents starting with the Sixth-Five Year Plan (2011-2015), with some earlier sporadic policy initiatives. Due to its being a relatively new concept, stakeholders still lack the expertise to tackle the issue leading to donor dependence. MSW management demands multi-stakeholder involvement, which, in turn, depends on multi-ministerial and -departmental coordination, which is chronically deficient. MSW policies, like most other social policies, demand citizen involvement, without which both policy formulation processes and their proper implementation are compromised. Conclusion: In order to overcome these policy challenges, the technical and financial capacity of the stakeholders for MSW management should be enhanced, high-level multi-ministerial coordination needs to be strengthened, and citizen empowerment and engagement must be ensured at every step of the MSW policy cycle.

Environmental and health effects of solid waste dumpsites in Wadajir District, Mogadishu, Somalia

Solid waste dumpsites are areas where waste is thrown away, stored, and disposed of. Improper solid waste dumpsites pose a major risk to both human health and the environment. The objective of this paper is to study the environmental and health effects of a solid waste dumpsite in Wadajir District, Mogadishu, Somalia. The study utilized a prospective case-control analytic approach as well as a cross-sectional study to assess the impact of these dumpsites on the environment. The findings of the study revealed that in Wadajir district, the majority of people believed that improper solid waste management leads to water and air pollution; similarly, in Dharkeynley district, the majority of respondents believed that improper solid waste management leads to water and air pollution. The study has also revealed in Wadajir district that the majority of the population was affected by malaria during the last six weeks, while in Dharkeynley district, the majority of the population was also affected by this disease, showing that there is a significant association between improper waste disposal and the transmission of malaria. These findings demonstrate that solid waste management is a crucial issue that affects both the environment and human health in the district. The study paper recommends protecting public and environmental health by reducing risks caused by improper solid waste management. It suggests opening landfills in remote areas without habitation and proper monitoring to minimize the impact on nearby residents.

Sustainable utilization of mixed healthcare waste as aggregate in lightweight concrete mixes: mechanical behavior, water absorption and leaching studies

Wastes generated from healthcare practices are a serious problem for humans as well as for the environment. In this study, an attempt was made to use mixed solid medical waste (WPN) which consisted of shredded waste plastic and chopped waste needles for partial replacement of natural fine aggregate (sand) in concrete mixes at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% by weight. To examine the validity of the suggested approach, the fundamental concrete properties including workability, fresh and hard densities, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength as well as a leaching test were performed. The curing ages for the concrete mixes were considered to be 7, 14, and 28 days. Fifty-four cubes were molded for compressive strength test, and 72 prisms were cast for flexural strength, whereby 162 cubes were prepared for density tests as well as water absorption test. The results revealed that WPN-concrete mixes exhibited improvement in the workability and steadily decreased both the compressive and flexural strength values of the WPN-concrete mixes which were higher than the mean target strength of lightweight concrete grade M17. Leaching test results indicated the absence of the target components in the leachant. The outcomes of this experimental study demonstrated that reusing WPN as a sand-substitution aggregate in concrete is a good approach to reducing the adverse impact resulting from the improper management of healthcare and medical solid waste.

Evaluation of municipal solid waste management in the state of Amazonas

The improper management of solid waste and the absence of resources and environmental education software are threatening the rivers of the Amazon region, that together form the greater freshwater basin in the world. In these terms, the general objective of this research is to evaluate the current situation of the management of urban solid waste in the cities of that state. The present research is organised in bibliographic and documental search, characterization of the area of investigation, and elaboration and application of questionnaires for data collection. Of the 62 towns that belongs to the territory of Amazonas, the research has collected information about 31, which corresponds to 50% of the area of investigation. The results indicate that 68% of the cities have the Municipal Plan for Integrated Solid Waste Management, while 32% did not elaborate their plans, failing to receive resources of the Federal Government which would be destined specifically to the services of management and operation of the solid waste. It was observed similar characteristics in the cities that did not have their plans elaborated, being all of minor size and located in isolated areas of the Amazon region, with access only by transport by river, fact that complicates the actions pertinent to the theme, as occurs with the final disposition of the solid waste. Among the cities that were investigated, none of them arrange their solid waste in appropriate environmentally conditions, prevailing the archaic way of disposal, the open sky landfills, that causes the degradation of the ground and hydric bodies, which are the top means of subsistence of the amazon population. The conclusion is that the management of solid waste represents one of the biggest challenges of basic sanitation in the state of Amazonas and such matter requires to be prioritized urgently, given the risk of the degradation of the natural resources of the region.

Spatiotemporal Variability of the Effects of Leachates on Shallow Wells Water in Kano Metropolis

Improper solid waste management in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria has become a serious threat to human health and ground water quality. Groundwater monitoring should be conducted to assess the groundwater contamination, especially originated from leachate generated from the dumpsites. Most of the dumpsites are located nearby water body that subsequently affecting the quality of the water for human purposes. This study aims to investigate the relationships between different physical-chemical and biological parameters during the two seasons (dry and wet seasons) in Kano Metropolis area as well as to identify the sources of variation during the two seasons. The level of some physical-chemical and biological parameters of the groundwater (wells) and dump sites were assessed (i.e. temperature, pH, conductivity, suspended solids, turbidity, hardness colour, e-coli and coliform). Mean concentration of some physical-chemical and biological parameters except that of temperature, colour, pH and total dissolved solids were found to be above the acceptable limit of the National and International standard of drinking water quality, NESREA and WHO. The sources and variations of the samples results were tested using statistical analysis. The water samples show a considerable level of pollution. The analysis of the groundwater and that of dump sites reveals no significant difference in the parameters measured. It is therefore recommended that the water from this source should be monitored and treated properly before consumption.

Perception on the Proper Solid Waste Management among Navaleños

One of the significant issues in developing nations like the Philippines is improper solid waste management. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the residents of the Municipality of Naval on solid waste management. As the Municipality of Naval aims to become a city, it is high time for the municipality to have proper, systematic, and scientific programs on solid waste management. So, to comprehend how the Navaleos view solid waste management, the researchers conducted this study. The researchers collected the data from the biggest barangay in the municipality using the standardized questionnaire of Trondillo et al. (2018). Using descriptive- correlational research design, the researchers analyzed the data collected using multivariate regression analysis. Results show that Navaleños are aware of the laws and regulations on solid waste management. However, there are negative responses to the awareness, practice & attitude toward solid waste management. Results also show that Navaleños rated the solid waste management programs of the government as neutral or slightly effective. With this, information campaigns, seminars, proper solid waste management plans, and incentives are recommended to intervene in this problem. Keywords – solid waste management, Naval, Biliran, municipal waste, perception, KAP

CHALLENGES CONFRONTING LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF DANGAMVURA RESIDENTIAL AREA, MUTARE, ZIMBABWE

Solid waste management has become one of the major challenges in both public circles and environmental health at the global level. The extent of the problems being faced as a result of improper solid waste management cannot be understated for example the illegal dumping and burning of municipal waste has become a common phenomenon in most Zimbabwean towns and cities. Studies regarding solid waste management have been widely researched by various scholars across the globe. In Zimbabwe, studies regarding solid waste management have been studied by scholars like Mlaudzi (2017) and Mutsvanga, et al. (2018) among others. Most of the studies focus on major urban centres and lack much information on residential areas. This study focuses on the challenges faced by local authorities in solid waste management in Dangamvura, Mutare. The main objectives of the study include: exploring the challenges being faced by the city of Mutare in solid waste management within the Dangamvura residential area, determining how these challenges are affecting the community and assessing the strategies and policies adopted by the city council to address these challenges. The researcher employed the mixed method of data collection and 60 participants took part in the research. The key informants were drawn from the city of Mutare. The main challenges which were being faced by the council in solid waste management in Dangamvura included poor community engagement, understaffing, urban sprawl, political interference, shortage of resources and natural hazards. These challenges affected the residents in a number of ways which included: disease outbreaks through water contamination, loss of natural beauty of the area and inconsistency in refuse collection. Various efforts were made to improve the state of service delivery in Dangamvura which included environmental education, law enforcement, motorizing cleansing, purchasing new refuse trucks and provisions of bins. The recommendations that have been provided include depoliticizing the issue among others that have been listed at the end of this study.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0009/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>