Overview

Effective solid waste management is crucial for maintaining environmental sustainability and public health. Waste management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling, or disposal and monitoring of waste materials. Waste management is one of the major environmental concerns in the world. Proper waste management should include a more systems-oriented approach that addresses the root causes of the problem. Waste management can involve solid, liquid, gaseous, or radioactive substances with different methods and fields of expertise for each.

Waste management practices differ in developed and developing countries, urban and rural areas, as well as residential and industrial producers so it is important to understand the local factors such as waste characteristics and seasonal variations, climate, social aspects, and cultural attitudes towards waste. The role of sustainable waste management is to reduce the amount of waste that is discharged into the environment by reducing the amount of waste generated.

Solutions

The purpose of waste management is to provide sanitary living conditions to reduce the amount of matter coming into or going out of our societies and encourage the reuse of matter .

Learn More

The waste management system consists of a whole set of activities related to handling, treating, disposing, or recycling of waste materials.

Learn More

Prevention practices (analyzing strategies such as waste minimization, improving public awareness, and waste legislation

Learn More

Specific Solutions

Below are several general solutions and approaches to manage solid waste:

Encourage waste reduction at the source by promoting practices such as reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.

Learn More

Establish comprehensive recycling programs that collect and process recyclable materials like, cardboard, glass, metals, paper, and plastics.

Learn More

Promote organic waste composting to divert food scraps, yard waste, and other organic materials from landfills.

Learn More

Invest in waste-to-energy technologies to convert non-recyclable waste into electricity or heat through incineration, gasification, or pyrolysis.

Learn More

Modernize and regulate landfill operations to minimize environmental contamination and optimize land use.

Learn More

Implement efficient waste separation at the source and collection systems to segregate recyclables, organic waste, and hazardous materials from non-recyclable waste.

Learn More

Shift the responsibility for waste management back to manufacturers by implementing EPR programs.

Learn More

Raise public awareness about responsible waste management practices through campaigns, workshops, and educational programs.

Learn More

Implement and enforce waste management regulations and policies to ensure proper disposal and recycling practices.

Learn More

Invest in research and development to discover new waste management technologies and approaches.

Learn More

Collaborate with private-sector companies to improve waste collection, processing, and disposal operations.

Learn More

Collaborate with neighboring regions and countries to address cross-border waste management issues and share best practices.

Learn More

These solutions are not mutually exclusive. A combination of these strategies is often required to create an effective solid waste management system. Customized approaches may be necessary depending on a region's specific needs and resources. Sustainability, efficiency, and environmental considerations should be central to any waste management plan.

Academic research on local challenges related to SWM includes research on solid waste in Mombasa: (on hover image??) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S222658

The World Bank has issued a principal protected Plastic Waste Reduction – Linked Bond.

Learn More