Environment and Health Impact of Solid Waste Management
in Developing Countries: A Review
RINNIE MAHAJAN
Department of Economics, University of Jammu, J&K.
Abstract
The subject of Solid Waste Management has attained global attention over
recent years. This issue is observed to be more prominent in developing
countries than in developed countries due to inadequate funds and resources.
Solid waste generation, segregation practices, storage facilities, collection
frequencies and disposal methods are evidenced to be unsustainable
in developing countries. Uncontrolled dumping and open burning are
common scenarios in these countries. Open dumping and burning of waste
pose serious environmental and health risks. They have led to severe forms
of air, water and soil pollution. Municipal Solid Waste pollution increases the
mortality as well as morbidity of diseases. Thus, the present study reviews
the environmental consequences and subsequent health jeopardies due
to improper and inefcient Solid Waste Management. The study focuses
more on environmental sustainability of Solid Waste Management than
economic and social sustainability. Hence, a paradigm shift towards green
and clean Solid Waste Management is vital as it safeguards the ecosystem
while preserving a green economy and social equity amongst present and
future generations.
CONTACT Rinnie Mahajan mahajanrinnie15@gmail.com Department of Economics, University of Jammu, J&K.
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Enviro Research Publishers.
This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons license: Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY).
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.18.1.3
Article History
Received: 05 September
2022
Accepted: 23 March 2023
Keywords
Environment Risks;
Health Risks;
Solid Waste Pollution.
Current World Environment
www.cwejournal.org
ISSN: 0973-4929, Vol. 18, No. (1) 2023, Pg. 18-29
Introduction
Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a
prime issue worldwide.
1
MSWM is associated with
challenges of increasing generation rates, poor
disposal methods and environmental consequences.
2
These challenges are, however, more prominent in
developing countries due to inadequate funds,
obsolete technology and lack of institutional setups.
3
There are various aspects of MSWM ranging from
goals, practices, strategies, control, regulation and
monitoring of the production, fnancial aspects to
environmental impact assessment of policies and
sustainable alternatives.
4
These aspects should
be integrated holistically to mitigate challenges
arising from MSW, its management and processing
treatments.
Sustainable development encompasses sustainable
MSWM practices with reduced environmental
emissions.
5
Sustainable MSWM has been one of