Solid Waste Management Practices: a Socioeconomic Perspective

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is one of the major urban development challenges in core urban areas. World over, open dumpsites are still the primary means of managing solid waste. They are found in minor streets across the cities and in open fields, especially in middle and low-income residential areas. Due to inefficiency in the waste collection system, most of the wastes from domestic and commercial activities are dumped in these sites posing a threat to human life and the environment. Available literature highlights the low capacity of collection and transportation of solid waste by major players citing evidence of quantities generated. Little is known on the contribution of the SWM practices on the social and economic lifestyles of residents. This book presents an empirical assessment of the influence of SWM practices on the socioeconomic lives of participating households with reference to Dandora dumpsite, Nairobi in Kenya. It demonstrates that SWM is a viable venture option that investors can target for revenue generation in improving livelihoods and poverty eradication. It is hoped that this piece of work will contribute positively to policy frameworks globally.