Solid Waste Management Activities Research Articles

Evaluation of Solid Medical Waste Management in Bogor Regional Public Hospitals

Healthcare facilities generate medical waste. If not properly managed, medical waste can damage the environment and spread diseases. Many hospitals in Indonesia do not adhere to medical waste management regulations. This study aimed to evaluate the management of solid medical waste at four public hospitals in Bogor District, Indonesia. A case study design was used to obtain a comprehensive description of the solid medical waste management activities in the hospitals. Data were collected through direct observations, interviews, and document reviews. This study revealed that the medical waste generated in all hospitals was infectious, pathological, pharmaceutical, chemical, and cytotoxic, totaling approximately 4,000-12,000 kg. Hospitals A, B, C, and D fulfilled the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P56 of 2015 criteria, achieving compliance rates of 77%, 83.78%, 83.3%, and 86.48%, respectively. However, several activities of the hospitals did not meet the standards for waste reduction, segregation, on-site transport, temporary storage, and human resource quality. It is important that hospitals establish comprehensive and compliant medical waste management systems.

Evolution characteristics of rural carbon emissions in Northwest China from 2006 to 2019

China is faced with significant challenges in simultaneously promoting rural development and reducing carbon emissions. However, the issue of quantifying and addressing carbon emissions in rural areas has not been adequately addressed. Accurately quantifying these emissions is crucial for developing effective strategies to reduce carbon output. In this study, the historical evolution and spatial distribution of rural carbon emissions in northwestern China from 2006 to 2019 were evaluated across five key sectors: residential energy consumption, agricultural machinery, solid waste management, planting practices, and breeding industry activities. During this period, total carbon emissions in rural areas of northwest China steadily increased from 60.15Mt to 83.49Mt at an annual growth rate of 2.55%. Given the complex interplay between economic and social factors driving these changes, the future trajectory of rural carbon emissions remains uncertain. To analyze the underlying drivers behind regional variations in carbon emissions over time, we constructed an LMDI model which revealed that economic growth primarily contributed to regional increases in carbon output. Furthermore, due to a remarkable annual growth rate of 35.17% in renewable energy generation (such as photovoltaic and wind power), it can be inferred that if renewable electricity were included within our calculations for carbon emission statistics, northwest China’s rural areas achieved a state of being effectively ‘carbon-neutral’ by 2019 solely from a production-based perspective.

Monitoring the vegetation stress coming from anthropogenic activities by modeling phenology using Sentinel-2 data

The study aimed at verifying the existence of stress induced on the functionality of natural ecosystems by particularly impacting anthropogenic activities. In detail, a methodology has been developed to evaluate any alterations in the phenology of plant species in areas surrounding sites defined by Italian legislation as “potentially polluted”. Specifically, the study areas located in Basilicata (southern Italy) were intended for municipal solid waste management activities and, at some stage of their management, Potential Toxic Elements (PTEs) concentrations were recorded above the thresholds permitted by the current legislation. The phenological trends of the vegetation were analyzed at gradually increasing distances from the centroid of the sites and then compared with points of the same type of vegetation, very distant from the sites, in areas that were not reasonably impacted by any contamination. The reconstruction of the phenological trends was carried out using Sentinel-2 images approximately on a monthly basis from which the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was evaluated. Finally, the trends between areas adjacent the sites and unpolluted ones were statistically analyzed using dissimilarity indices which led to the conclusion of the non-existence of effects induced by PTEs on the functionality of the vegetation.

Implementation of Ecological Solid Waste Management City Ordinance: The Case of a Component City in Southern Negros

Aims: This study determined the extent of implementation of ecological solid waste management activities: waste generation and storage, waste processing and resources recovery, collection and transportation, and disposal of solid wastes in communities in a component city in Negros Occidental as assessed by the city implementers, barangay implementers, and residents when taken as a whole and when barangays are grouped according to geographical location, population, land area, and income classification. Lastly, the findings of the study were utilized in the formulation of a strategic plan for enhanced implementation of the city's comprehensive solid waste management program. 
 Study Design: The study utilized the quantitative design particularly the descriptive-comparative approach.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the barangays of a component city in Southern part of Negros Occidental Philippines during school year 2022.
 Methodology: The study used a descriptive-comparative research design utilizing a survey questionnaire for data collection. Only Five hundred thirteen (513) respondents participated in the study and the seven (7) others refused to answer the survey questionnaire. Total enumeration was employed for city implementers. Stratified random sampling was used to identify the respondents for barangay and community leaders for each stratum to be well represented. Purposive sampling was used in data collection. In the same way, purposive sampling was used in the conduct of interviews. To analyze the descriptive data, Mean, Standard Deviation, and Frequency Count were also used. Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were utilized for comparative analysis. More so, general moral principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice to ensure the ethical soundness of the study are addressed in the study.
 Results: The result shows no significant difference in the implementation when communities are grouped according to population. However, a significant difference was found when communities were grouped according to location, land area, and income. When it comes to demographics of the respondents in the component city in Southern Negros. In terms of respondents, 1.8% (f=9) were city implementers, 25.0% (f=128) were barangay implementers, and 73.3% (f=193) were community leaders. Among the three (3) implementers, the majority were the community leaders in the component city. Meanwhile, in regards to location, 40.0% (f=205) of respondents came from upland location, 37.6% (f=193) stayed at mainland, and 22.4% (f=115) lived in coastal location. Dominantly, respondents from the upland location obtained the highest percentage among the location. When it comes to population, 73.9% (f=379) belonged to the smaller population with 5933 and below, and 26.1% (f=134) was from a bigger population with 5934 and above. The majority belonged to a smaller population that dominated the study. Similarly, in terms of land area, 73.9% (f=379) of the respondents were from a smaller area (1931 and below), while 26.3% (f=135) were from a bigger area (1932 and up). Finally, in terms of income classification, 68.6% (f=352) of respondents belonged to the barangays with a lower income of 806880 and below, while 31.4% (f=68.4) belonged to the barangays with a higher income of 8068808 and up. Respondents residing in lower-income areas have fewer sources of living, income, and resources.

Municipal Solid Waste Collection Services in Rapidly Growing Cities of Tanzania

Globally, rapid urban and population growth poses a huge problem for solid waste management (SWM), with developing countries’ fast-growing cities having more SWM challenges than industrialized countries. In Mbeya, Tanzania, a study to investigate the performance of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) collection services was carried out using a descriptive cross-sectional research design, and a mixed research approach. Questionnaires, interviews, field observations, and document reviews were used to gather information. Among the indicators used to evaluate the performance of Solid Waste (SW) collection services were the levels of community participation in SW collection, means of SW collection, coverage, amount of SW collected daily, facilities for SW collection and transportation, timely SW removal from collection points, and the ability to address SW collection challenges. Quantitative data was analysed using the IBM-SPSS software. Multiple response functions in SPSS were used to analyse questions with more than one answer, while content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The findings indicate that MSW collection services in Mbeya City are under-performing due to a number of factors, including the lack of vehicles and solid waste storage facilities, delays in removing solid waste from collection points, low city council budget allocation and disbursement for SWM activities, and the lack of willingness of the Mbeya City Council to address MSW collection challenges. It is thus concluded that adopting and enhancing the publicprivate partnership model in SWM is critical to addressing MSW collection difficulties in Tanzania’s rapidly growing cities.

Assessment of solid waste management practices in Kebridehar city Somali regional state, Ethiopia

In developing countries, solid wastes are not collected and thus discharged into open spaces and drains. The consequences of this event have an impact on human life as well as the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the existing solid waste management practices, as well as sources, types, and determining characteristics of solid waste in the study area. Simple random and purposive sampling methods, respectively, were employed to select 3 sample kebeles and 160 respondents. The data were analyzed in SPSS version 26 using descriptive statistics and an econometric model. The binomial logistic model was used to determine the factors that influence solid waste management activities. The results indicated that Plastics/bags/bottles, food waste, paper/carton, tins/cans, and glasses were the major types of solid wastes in the study area. The majority (45%) of the respondents identified plastics as the dominated solid waste in Kebridehar city. Gender, marital status, and occupation had insignificant negative effects on solid waste management practice. Age (p = 0.030) and distance (p = 0.000) from the center of town, on the other hand, had statistically significant effects on solid waste management practice. The majority of respondents (76.2%) had not received any information regarding the effects of solid wastes on the environment and human life. Beside this, there were no solid waste public bins within walking distance of their residences. In conclusion, the study found that communities were not aware regarding the impacts of solid wastes on the environment; there were no solid waste public bins near the residence of communities at all. Depending on the major findings of the current study, the authors recommend that the city administration should install trash bins near the residences of the communities. The city municipalities should provide training for the communities regarding environmental and human health, the impacts of the solid wastes.

Evaluation of cost benefit analysis of municipal solid waste management systems

The rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in developing countries is continuously growing in proportion to the gross national product. Landfilling, incineration, composting, and waste to energy (WtE) have a brief history as management strategies for MSW in India. Economic evaluation via cost benefit analysis (CBA) of MSW is establishing the most appropriate treatment/disposal strategy and it is often a major concern for solid waste management (SWM) policymakers. Thus, this study aims to analyze the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) activities in India’s capital, Delhi, and the CBA of MSWM systems to identify the major problems and limitations involved. Sixty-sixsamples totaling 6,600 kg were collected and analyzed at random from various locations, including the sources of generation, composting plants, and disposal sites. Storage, collection, transportation, and recycling information were gathered from departments such as Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and self-surveys. The total costs of each MSW option were calculated for cost analysis. The results revealed a high organic moisture content, indicating the possibility of composting and bio-methanation, except for waste from commercial, institutional area and restaurants that can be used to develop Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). It was also revealed that only about 80% of the garbage generated in Delhi is collected. In terms of treatment and disposal, the MCD has proposed additional facilities such as disposal through sanitary landfills with linings, as well as a system for leachate collection and disposal. Furthermore, construction and demolition waste are used in the construction of various pavement components, such as base coarse, surface coarse, and so on. The total social value added by garbage trade operations in Delhi is expected to be INR 358.7 crores (approximately 46.60 million USD) between 2017 and 2020. Recycling saves the municipal budget about INR 17.6 crores (approximately 2.3 million USD per year).

Challenges in Governance and Implementation of the Philippines’ Solid Waste Management Programs: Focus on Plastics

Despite the law, solid waste management (SWM) is still a challenge in the Philippines. Plastics form an increasingly significant portion of solid wastes and is a source of surface water pollution. Hence, surface water governance (such as river governance) should address plastics pollution. This paper discusses governance mechanisms to minimize solid wastes, especially plastics in surface water. Using secondary data sources, the paper discusses the trends in plastic pollution, its nature and causes; the laws on plastic pollution in the Philippines and other countries, and the challenges in the current institutional mechanisms and implementation of these laws. It describes a model of SWM at a watershed level, that can potentially sustain the SWM activities. This adaptive collaborative governance model has four components: establishing partnerships, planning strategic actions, developing the SWM plan, and implementing an investment plan. The model was tested in the Sta Cruz, Laguna River Basin, and is operational even as the academe project is completed. Lessons learned for its sustainability include the following: 1) There must be capacity building, 2) SWM should be crafted in a participatory manner, especially involving the grassroots communities, 3) Define incentives to make the collaboration active, and 4) Committed leadership in the river council was an important sustainability factor.

Role of Modern Technologies and Internet of things in the field of Solid Waste Management

The process of handling solid waste becomes complex and tedious due to the urbanization and industrialization of the most developing and developed countries. These solid waste issues if it is not addressed properly it affects ecosystem and environment. There is a possibility of many health-oriented issues especially during the pandemic period covid-19. Most of the human beings are struggling with respiratory pulmonary diseases, asthma caused by these solid wastes. Most of the governments are also spending huge amount of money for labors, devices and some technologies to tackle these solid waste issues. There is also an opportunity for the government to generate revenue from these solid wastes by properly sorting these waste into recyclable, nonrecyclable and bio-degradable wastes. But when humans are involved in sorting these waste it will cause some diseases and hygienic problems. So,in order to address the above said issues in this work the role of modern technologies, algorithms and some Internet of things (IoT) methods are discussed. Implementing these technologies in the future will save huge amount of money spent by the government for the solid waste management activities.

Evaluation of solid waste management operational techniques in Kebonsari Urban Village, Citangkil sub-district, Cilegon City

The increase of population is equal to the increase of solid waste generation. Domestic solid waste generation that is not managed properly will cause problems. Solid waste management in Kebonsari Urban Village, Citangkil Sub-District, Cilegon City still uses the old paradigm (collect-transport-dispose) and low service level. This study aims to evaluate solid waste management activities from storage, collection, and transportation to the final disposal. This study used the method of field observation to analysis current service coverage and compare operational technical conditions in Kebonsari Urban Village with SNI 19-2454-2002 of Operational Techniques of Municipal Solid Waste Management. Data analysis was performed by calculating based on SNI 3242-2008 Residential Solid Waste Management. The results showed that only 41% of the population of Kebonsari Urban Village were served, this was due to the fact that there were still many people who did not put garbage in their bin and solid waste operational techniques in Kebonsari Urban Village were still not entirely applying SNI 19-2454-2002 one of them is shown by the low participation of the community in solid waste management. The average of solid waste generation in Kebonsari Urban Village are 0.71 l/person/day or 0.12 kg/person/day and the solid waste composition are 60.2% organic and 39.8 inorganic.

Domestic solid waste generation and management in Hau My Bac A Commune, Cai Be District, Tien Giang Province, Vietnam

The study was conducted to survey the current situation of domestic solid waste generation and management in Hau My Bac A commune, Cai Be district, Tien Giang province in Hau My Bac A village, Cai Be district, Tien Giang province. Data on the status of generation and management were collected through direct interviews with 60 households and placed garbage bags in the households for a period of seven consecutive days a week. The research results showed that the average amount of domestic solid waste generated by each household was about 1-1.5 kg of waste/day, on average, each person generated 0.36 kg/person/day. The composition of domestic solid waste of households was relatively different, mainly organic waste, accounted for 47.88% higher than the other components. Plastic, plastic bags accounted for 24.65%, metals 2.19%, paper and carton 9.89%, foam box accounted for 4.15%. The wood, fabric, rubber, and glass were negligible. Hazardous wastes were not found in the study period. Currently, the collection was not met the demand of efficient solid waste collection due to the lack of facilities and the workforce. The rate of solid waste collection was only about 40-55%. Local domestic solid waste managers have not been paid adequate attention to the overall management of solid waste. Local residents in the study area were not fully aware of the harms of domestic solid waste, did not actively participate in solid waste management activities leading to the difficulty in the management. The active participation of the community and strict enforcement of the environmental protection law can make an important contribution to the full management of solid waste in the study area.

Constraints Of Community Participation On Domestic Solid Waste Management In Sodo City, Wolayita Ethiopia

This study was undertaken to assess the constraints of community participation on domestic solid waste management activities in sodo city, Ethiopia. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected from 204 households who were randomly selected from four kebeles (Fana, Gebeya, Gido and Selame) of wolayita-sodo city. The primary data were gathered through survey questionnaire, key informant interview, focus group discussion, and field observation. The secondary data were collected from central statistics authority, city municipality, published and unpublished sources. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model. The result shows that participation of communities on domestic solid waste management was low. The result from binary logistic regression model revealed that the probability of household participation on domestic solid waste management was positively and significantly constrained by educational level of households, household income, and household access to main road, small-scale enterprise service coverage and supply of waste facility. On the other hand, sex of household head and marital statuses were negatively and significantly constrained the probability of household participations on domestic solid waste management. As a result, widening the horizon of education and training, expanding small-scale enterprise service coverage, supply of waste facility and provision of road infrastructure within the community was suggested to reduce constraints of community participation on domestic solid waste management.

COGNITIVE DOMAINS OF COMMUNITIES ON MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN METU TOWN, SOUTH-WEST ETHIOPIA

Urban waste management is drawing increasing attention in emerging cities of Ethiopia. Accurate and reliable information on cognitive domains of communities is a very important element for efficient and effective planning of solid waste management (SWM) system. Therefore, we assessed the cognitive domains of communities on SWM system in Metu town. A cross-sectional study design and simple random sampling technique was employed on 252 households (HHs), and 65 commercials and institutions (CIs). Data was collected through face to face interview using a structured questionnaire and checklist. A survey from sampled HHs and CIs revealed that 79.8% of HHs and 38.5% of CIs were separately stored solid wastes, capable of being sold and/or exchanged. Nevertheless, 26.2% of HHs and 94.6% of CIs didn t practice recycling and reusing of solid waste, only 24.2% of HHs is currently doing home composting as recycling. Out of the total, 19.8% HHs and 16.9% of CIs were accessed to door to door municipal solid waste collection service, 75% of the HHs and 80% of CIs were used Micro and small scale enterprize (MSE) for door to door solid waste collection service. The vast majority of the communities in Metu town unsatisfied by the service rendered by municipality and MSE, only 1.2% of HHs and 3.1% of CIs respondents were satisfied with solid waste collection services of the municipality. In general, the town should emphasize the cognitive domains of communities to improve SWM activities by promoting waste segregation, recycling/reusing, and providing waste transfer stations with collection containers.

Solid waste management beliefs and practices in rural households towards sustainable development and pro-environmental citizenship

This study examined the waste management beliefs and practices of selected households in a Philippine rural municipality. The sample used for this study involved rural families comprising of 332 households, which was drawn from the population using multistage cluster unequal allocation sampling technique. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data gathered. Findings show that households encountered many problems when it comes to practicing traditional and modern ways of solid waste management. Moreover, it was revealed that participants were ill-informed about the various aspects of waste management, and that there was little reuse and recycling of waste materials among the households. In terms of the participants’ solid waste management beliefs, their ratings yielded a X score of 1.08, which means that they generally have positive beliefs towards managing household wastes. When it comes to their practices, participants obtained a X score of 2.59, suggesting that the selected households apply, to certain degrees, various acceptable waste disposal measures. Nevertheless, they also demonstrated beliefs and practices that were not environment friendly. From these findings, this study proposed a plan of solid waste management activities for households, which was collaboratively assessed by local government authorities. The proposed plan was unanimously accepted by the evaluators, who approved of the intervention’s wide-scale implementation in the province. A number of significant implications were offered in this study, such as conducting community workshops and campaigns for the effective management of solid wastes.

Impact of COVID-19 on household waste flows, diversion and reuse: The case of multi-residential buildings in Toronto, Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic has had numerous environmental consequences, including impacts on municipal waste management systems. Changes in consumption and waste disposal patterns and behaviours during the lockdown period have produced new challenges for solid waste management and waste diversion activities. This paper develops a conceptual model that reflects short-term changes in waste flows from households that are due to COVID-19 disruptions, focusing on the case of multi-residential buildings in Toronto, Canada. Multi-residential buildings are of interest because they differ from single family homes in several key ways that can produce some slightly different impacts of COVID-19 on waste flows and practices. Primary research for the study included interviews with 19 staff, residents and property managers of ten multi-residential buildings. All of the research took place while Toronto was still in partial-lockdown. Analysis of the interviews revealed five themes around the impact of COVID-19: (1) changes in garbage, recycling and organics flows, (2) new health and safety concerns, (3) changes in reuse and reduction practices, (4) changes in special waste and deposit-return bottle collections, and (5) changes in waste diversion and reduction education. Given the time frame of our study, we recognize these as short-term impacts and call for future research to determine how many of the changes are likely to perpetuate over the medium and longer term.

Discrepancies in N2O emissions between household waste and its food waste and non-food waste components during the predisposal stage

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas (GHG) and an ozone-depleting substance. Municipal solid waste (MSW) management and treatment activities are some of the sources of GHG emissions. However, the biogenic GHG emissions during the predisposal stage of MSW management, during which waste is transferred to garbage cans and then transported to disposal sites, have received little attention. In this study, household waste was divided into food and non-food waste, and the effects of these types of waste and different oxygen concentrations (21%, 10%, and 1%) on N2O emissions were investigated. A15N-labeled isotope experiment was conducted over three days to determine the contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N2O emissions. The results showed that the N2O fluxes first increased and then decreased during the three-day tests at different O2 concentrations. The maximum N2O flux of 1469.59 ± 1004.32 μg N·kg−1 wet waste·h−1 occurred during the predisposal of food waste at an O2 concentration of 21%, with the total N2O emissions reaching 20.26 ± 10.87 mg N·kg−1 wet waste, which exceeds the emissions from some waste disposal processes, such as composting and landfills. The N2O emissions decreased in the following order: food waste > household waste > non-food waste. For food waste, the peak value and total amount of N2O emissions decreased significantly as the O2 concentration decreased. In contrast, the N2O emissions from non-food waste increased as the O2 concentration decreased. Denitrification was the predominant biogenic source of N2O emissions; it accounted for over 60% of N2O production in all treatments. Nitrification also played an important role in N2O emissions during the early predisposal stage.

Non-conventional options of managing municipal solid waste towards sustainable solid waste management in Makassar City

The traditional approach of handling municipal solid waste in many cities in Indonesia has led to the failure in certain degree of the solid waste management (SWM). On the other hand, the non-conventional options are the approaches to transform this business-as-usual approach to sustainable SWM that aims at accomplishing the appropriate proportion of the elements in waste hierarchy towards sustainable solid waste management. This study aims at assessing the present non-conventional approaches in municipal solid waste management undertaken by waste authorities in Makassar City. We conducted an in-depth investigation and interview with the actors/members, users, citizens and authorities on current status of non-conventional options of SWM. Four hundred and two respondents have been acquired their opinion and perception. Analysis on their perceptions was done by using 5-point Likert scale, by expecting to represent the respondents’ voices in carrying out the SWM activities. From the study, we confirmed that activities towards sustainable solid waste management are not always cost-intensive activities, a socially-bounded engagement, as reflected in by community in the study area, would also workable. We affirm that a livable city will not be accomplished without sustainable solid waste management.

A BASELINE SCENARIO OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

The baseline scenarios of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) activities that will expose the specific challenges militating against sustainable waste management in many developing countries are not properly documented or not understood. This paper established a baseline scenario of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Ghana, through material flow analysis and understanding of MSW handling practices, using the Wa Municipality as a case study. The study was theoretically based on empirical observation and an exploratory design. The findings showed that sustainable waste management has remained elusive because MSWM in the case study area and Ghana in general, consist of some waste collection, transportation and open dumping, where the entire amount of waste is open dumped without pretreatment. The sorting of waste at the generation sources, and the provision of adequate MSWM infrastructure, through an integrated solid waste management system can ensure sustainable waste management in the country.

Investigation and modelling of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from waste collection and transport activities.

Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from municipal solid waste management activities and the associated climate change impacts are getting great attention worldwide. This study investigates greenhouse gas emissions and their distribution during waste collection and transport activities in the Dammam region of Saudi Arabia. Greenhouse gas emissions and associated global warming factors were estimated based on diesel fuel consumption during waste collection and transport activities. Then, waste collection and transport data were used to parameterise a mechanistic collection model that can be used to estimate and predict future fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. For the collection and transport of municipal waste in the study area, the average associated total greenhouse gas emissions were about 24,935 tCO2-eq. Global warming factors for three provinces were estimated as 25.23 kg CO2-eq t-1, 25.04 kg CO2-eq t-1, and 37.15 kg CO2-eq t-1, respectively. Lastly, the American Meteorological Society/Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD) modelling system was used to estimate the atmospheric dispersion of greenhouse gas emissions. Model results revealed that the maximum daily greenhouse gas concentrations ranged between 0.174 and 97.3 mg m-3, while annual average greenhouse gas concentrations were found to be between 0.012 and 27.7 mg m-3 within the study domain. The highest greenhouse gas concentrations were observed for the regions involving the municipal solid waste collection routes owing to their higher source emission rates.

A baseline scenario of municipal solid waste management

The baseline scenarios of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) activities that will expose the specific challenges militating against sustainable waste management in many developing countries, are not properly documented or not understood. This paper established a baseline scenario of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Ghana, through material flow analysis and understanding of MSW handling practices, using the Wa Municipality as a case study. The study was theoretically based on empirical observation and an exploratory design. The findings showed that sustainable waste management has remained elusive because MSWM in the case study area and Ghana in general, consist of some waste collection, transportation and open dumping, where the entire amount of waste is open dumped without pre-treatment. The sorting of waste at the generation sources, and the provision of adequate MSWM infrastructure, through an integrated solid waste management system can ensure sustainable waste management in the country.