Identifying the Leverage Points in the Household Solid Waste Management System for Harare, Zimbabwe, Using Network Analysis Techniques

Abstract

Managing household solid waste (HSW) has gone beyond what the Harare local government can handle. Inadequate knowledge of the interactions existing between issues that affect the efficient running of waste management systems is one of the major hindrances in waste management planning in developing countries like Zimbabwe. The complexity of the waste management system for a given municipal area needs to be identified and understood to generate appropriate and efficient waste management strategies. Network analysis (NA) is a methodology extensively used in research to help reveal a comprehensive picture of the relationships and factors related to a particular phenomenon. The methodology reduces the intricacy of large systems such as waste management to smaller and more understandable structures. In this study, NA, which was done mainly using the R software environment, showed a result of 1.5% for network density, thus signifying that for Harare, waste management strategies need to be ‘seeded’ in various parts of the system. The Pareto principle and the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) concept were applied to suggest the issues to prioritize and generate strategies that could potentially affect significant change to the city’s waste management system. The key issues identified, in their order of importance, are an increase in uncollected waste, low waste collection efficiency, increase in illegal waste dumping, the deteriorating country’s economy, reduced municipal financial capacity, reduced municipal workforce capacity, inadequate or unreliable waste data, increase in waste volume, increase in the number of street vendors, no waste planning and monitoring unit, no engineered landfills in the city, increase in waste collection pressure, low waste collection frequency, increase in the unemployment rate, reduced municipal technical capacity, few waste collection vehicles, limited vehicles maintenance, distinct socio-economic classes, high vehicles breakdown, and increase in population.

Applicability of the Life Cycle Assessment Model in Solid Waste Management in Zimbabwe

“…In Zimbabwe, collection of solid waste from households and institutions is done by municipalities using dump trucks through kerbside or block (communal) collection approach [ 62 , 83 ]. However, collection of solid waste is termed inefficient due to shortage of fuel, labour, trucks and improper planning during dispatching of waste trucks since solid waste may last for a week without being collected [ 55 , 109 ]. Although this contradicts with climatic conditions (Subtropical climate) which promote rapid decomposition of solid waste, hence it should be collected at least twice per week [ 66 ].…”

“…Although this contradicts with climatic conditions (Subtropical climate) which promote rapid decomposition of solid waste, hence it should be collected at least twice per week [ 66 ]. In the Zimbabwean context, 70% of municipality’s waste budget is used for waste collection [ 55 , 88 ]. This demonstrated that Zimbabwe as a country focuses on waste collection while giving less attention to waste reduction alternatives,therefore, large volume of waste is collected and disposed.…”

“…Therefore, it needs to be dealt with considering economic, social, environmental and political aspects to achieve sustainability. In the Zimbabwean context, increase of solid waste is attributed to urbanisation, population increase, disease outbreaks and better living standards [ 55 , 66 ]. However, in the Zimbabwean context, solid waste increase is exerting pressure to humanity and already fragile environment.…”

“…In Zimbabwe, solid waste is generated from institutions, manufacturing and construction industries, supermarkets, households and streets among other sources [ 55 , 109 ]. This revealed that various types of solid waste which may include hazardous and non-hazardous waste are produced in Zimbabwe and hence need attention.…”

Community-Based Management of Household Solid Waste for Harare, Zimbabwe: A System Dynamics Approach

“…Located in the Northern part of Zimbabwe, the city covers an area of 961km2 and carries a population of 1 851 620 [11,12]. recently published articles extensively describing Harare's HSW management system as well as its challenges [13,14]. Residents in Harare are responsible for sourcing receptacles for HSW storage.…”