Sustainable Waste Management Innovations in Africa: New Perspectives and Research Agenda for Improving Global Health

Abstract

The need for green business practices and green innovations underscores a growing recognition that climate change is now an existential threat not just to population health but also to the survival of businesses that are unable to embrace green practices with a sense of urgency. This paper contributes to the literature on market violence as an inhibitor of green innovations for sustainable waste management to curb the unneeded health effects of wastes in Africa. Our purpose is to problematize received wisdom, unquestioned assumptions, and incorrect diagnosis of the sources and health consequences of various forms of wastes in Africa. Much of the discourse on this issue remains ahistorical, and that risks leaving aside a vital question of exploitative extraction. By including this ‘out-of-the-box’ explanation through major case references, we are able to shed light on the critical issues that have hitherto received limited attention, thus enabling us to propose useful research questions for future enquiries. We propose a framework that delineates the structural composition of costs imposed by market violence that ranges from extraction to e-waste disposal. We advocate for the engineering of policies that create conditions for doing more with less resources, eliminating waste, and recycling as crucial steps in creating sustainable waste management innovations. Additionally, we highlight a set of fundamental issues regarding enablers and inhibitors of sustainable innovations and policies for waste management worth considering for future research. These include programmed obsolescence, irresponsible extraction, production, and consumption, all seen through the theoretical lens of market violence.

Ai-Driven Waste Management Systems: A Comparative Review of Innovations in the Usa and Africa

“…The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers about healthcare waste management have been studied, indicating a focus on improving waste management practices through innovative approaches (Olaifa et al, 2018). On the other hand, in Africa, there is a growing research agenda for sustainable waste management innovations, emphasizing the importance of tailoring solutions to regional contexts (Ahen & Amankwah-Amoah, 2021). This aligns with the efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa to address e-waste management through systematic literature reviews and the exploration of new perspectives and research agendas for improving global health (Maphosa & Maphosa, 2020).…”

“…While the USA faces challenges in managing healthcare waste, Africa encounters obstacles in the management of specific waste types, such as e-waste. However, there are shared efforts to address these challenges through innovative practices and research agendas, emphasizing the importance of tailoring solutions to regional contexts (Ahen & Amankwah-Amoah, 2021). In conclusion, waste management infrastructures in the USA and Africa exhibit regional disparities, with both regions facing unique challenges.…”

“…The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a promising solution to address waste management issues by enabling predictive and prioritized waste management models in smart and sustainable environments (Mishra et al, 2022). The purpose of this comparative review is to analyze and contrast the innovations in waste management between the USA and Africa, given the differing socio-economic and infrastructural contexts (Ahen & Amankwah-Amoah, 2021). The global waste management challenges stem from the exponential increase in municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, and electronic waste (e-waste) (Nwachukwu et al, 2017).…”

“…While the USA has made significant progress in sustainable waste management innovations, Africa faces unique challenges due to rapid urbanization and limited infrastructure (Ogutu & Kathambi, 2023). By comparing the approaches and technologies used in waste management in these two regions, valuable insights can be gained to inform policy development, resource allocation, and technology transfer to address the specific needs of each region (Ahen & Amankwah-Amoah, 2021). In conclusion, the global waste management challenges necessitate innovative and sustainable solutions, with AI-driven waste management systems offering promising opportunities for addressing these issues.…”

Editorial: Sustainable Waste Management Innovations: Developing New Ventures for Improved Health and Environmental Wellbeing

“…As usual, all these interesting insights provide foundations for formulating new questions for future research. As Ahen and Amankwah-Amoah [14] propose, there is a need to re-evaluate the composition of costs incurred by developing nations, starting not only from waste disposal but also from the extraction. There are several avenues for research in this underdeveloped area as well.…”