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Solid Wastes, Poverty and the Environment in Developing Country Cities: Challenges and Opportunities

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  • Martin Medina

Abstract

Many cities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America face serious problems managing their wastes. Two of the major problems are the insufficient collection and inappropriate final disposal of wastes. Despite spending increasing resources, many cities - particularly in Africa and Asia - collect less than half of the waste generated. Most wastes are disposed of in open dumps, deposited on vacant land, or burned by residents in their backyards. Insufficient collection and inadequate disposal generate significant pollution problems and risks to human health and the environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Medina, 2010. "Solid Wastes, Poverty and the Environment in Developing Country Cities: Challenges and Opportunities," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2010-023, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2010-023
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2010-23.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Medina, 2008. "The Informal recycling Sector in Developing Countries : Organizing Waste Pickers to Enhance their Impact," World Bank Publications - Reports 10586, The World Bank Group.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ernest Kimbugwe & Olurominiyi O. Ibitayo, 2014. "Analysis of characteristics, activities, and exposure to vermin of human landfill scavengers in a developing nation," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 358-365, June.
    2. Helin Kardelen Kavuş & Yener Erköse & Değer Eryar, 2023. "Driving Green Job Opportunities in Sustainable Waste Management through Co-Production Strategies: Informal Recycling Workers, Municipalities, and the National Agenda—A Case Study of İzmir," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Candace Martinez & J. Bowen, 2013. "The Ethical Challenges of the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(4), pages 807-821, November.
    4. Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso & Adebola Saidat Daud & Adebayo Isaiah Ogunniyi & Kehinde Oluseyi Olagunju, 2020. "What Drives Households’ Payment for Waste Disposal and Recycling Behaviours? Empirical Evidence from South Africa’s General Household Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Pegels, Anna & Heyer, Stefanie & Ohlig, David & Kurz, Felix & Laux, Lena & Morley, Prescott, 2021. "¿Es sostenible el reciclaje? Propuestas para conciliar los aspectos sociales, ecológicos y económicos en Argentina," IDOS Discussion Papers 10/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    6. Pegels, Anna & Heyer, Stefanie & Ohlig, David & Kurz, Felix & Laux, Lena & Morley, Prescott, 2020. "How sustainable is recycling? Reconciling the social, ecological, and economic dimensions in Argentina," IDOS Discussion Papers 23/2020, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    7. Ms. Thornton Matheson, 2019. "Disposal is Not Free: Fiscal Instruments to Internalize the Environmental Costs of Solid Waste," IMF Working Papers 2019/283, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Rafael Alvarado & Elisa Toledo, 2017. "Environmental degradation and economic growth: evidence for a developing country," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1205-1218, August.
    9. Freek Colombijn & Martina Morbidini, 2017. "Pros and cons of the formation of waste-pickers’ cooperatives: a comparison between Brazil and Indonesia," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 44(2), pages 91-101, June.

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