Towards the Efficiency of Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Case Study of Lubumbashi

Abstract

This paper provides an overview on the state of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in Lubumbashi, D.R Congo. To meet the recently proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), establishment of efficient waste management techniques and strategies geared towards monetizing waste in the framework of sustainable growth is inevitable. Solid waste categorization and collection in conjunction with recycle, reuse and revalue are efficient approaches that can be employed to overcome waste management problems affecting development in the neighborhoods and districts of Lubumbashi. Findings from this work reveal that there are no distinction between waste categories, especially the biodegradable waste fraction of various municipalities (p>0.05) and other types waste examined in the study. However, significant fraction of construction waste was observed within dissimilar municipalities (p<0.05). This notwithstanding, the municipality of Lubumbashi generates more waste fractions (212%) than Katuba (114.20%), Kamalondo (58.25%) and Kenya (52.21%). Notably, Kampemba municipality produce more composite waste (54.5%) than others municipalities (p<0.05). The lowest amount of composite waste comes from Kamalondo Township with 20.4% proportion. Within the hazardous waste category, different toxic waste levels were found in four major municipalities (p<0.05). Overall, Kamalondo municipality waste is adjudged poorly managed with high amount of non-retrieved waste than other municipalities (p<0.05) though, the amount of hazardous waste generated in Lubumbashi (71.47%) is higher than other solid waste category observed. From the data set obtained, a conceptual model was developed to effectively manage the solid waste generated in Lubumbashi city.