Understanding Solid Waste Management Practices in Developing Countries: From Waste Disposal to Recovery of Resources

Abstract

This paper sought to compare the three methods of waste management in developing countries and identify the most economical option. Structured questionnaires were administered to three city councils in Sierra Leone with respect to landfills, composting and incineration as waste disposal methods. On-the-sport observation and personal interviews were also used to collect some useful data. The data was analyzed by using SPSS packages. The results showed that Landfills are the most common way of disposal in developing countries but they have not been successful in countries like Sierra Leone due to limited time frame of usage. Composting eliminates methane production, and increase life expectancy of landfills. Incineration does not necessarily replace landfilling but it significantly reduces the necessary volume of disposal. The study concludes that none of these three methods is free from problems. Therefore the study recommends that developing countries should adopt resource recovery, the most economical and best possible option to reduce the waste disposal problem keeping in mind the cost effects on the respective governments.