NEHA December 2024 Journal of Environmental Health

ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE

Open Access

 INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Solid Waste Management in the Republic of Benin: The Case of Five Municipalities in Grand Nokoué

Noelie M.A. Guezo, MPH UNICEF Tunde M. Akinmoladun, PhD, DAAS, FRSPH Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Zurbrugg (2003) summed up the chal- lenges of solid waste management in munici- palities in low- and middle-income countries as inadequate service coverage, operational ineciencies in services, limited use of recy- cling activities, inadequate disposal landfills, and inadequate management of hazardous and healthcare waste. Another challenge in implementing solid waste management is the absence of con- sistent and reliable data. This situation is prevalent in many countries, and Benin and other West African nations are no exception (Miezah et al., 2015). In most of these coun- tries, the majority of waste is disposed of in unregulated dumps or is openly burned, which results in ecological and human health consequences. Purpose The purpose of our article is to address the various ways solid waste is managed in the Republic of Benin, particularly in the metropolis of Grand Nokoué, which includes the country’s five largest cities of Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Porto-Novo, Sèmè-Kpodji, and Ouidah. By sharing the experience with the rest of the world, we aim to provide prag- matic and sustainable recommendations. Findings In most West African countries such as Benin, solid waste management is a major concern. According to the World Bank Group (2024), the waste generated in Benin is esti- mated at 197 kg per capita annually, with the projection for 2025 being 274 kg per capita annually. Overall, solid waste generated in Benin contains approximately 37% organic waste and 15% plastic waste. Estimates by the Benin Ministry of Environment suggest that the cities within Grand Nokoué, where

,<=;+-= Our article examined the state of solid waste management in five major cities of the Republic of Benin in West Africa. For each major city, we explored the current practices, types of waste, volumes, sources, and disposal methods. Our recommendations can guide adequate and safe solid waste management practices in other low- and middle-income countries in the West African region and elsewhere. Keywords: solid waste management, recycling, resource conservation, environmental protection, human health, personal protective equipment

Introduction According to Wang (2019), solid waste is garbage—the discarded, less useful part of the material generated by everyday human activities, including household, agricultural, industrial, or commercial activities. Solid waste encompasses any discarded, aban- doned, incinerated, buried, or recycled mate- rials. As such, all human activities produce solid waste in one way or another. The term solid waste management refers to the process of collecting and treating solid waste to limit its eects on the environment and the health and well-being of humans. Globally, eective solid waste management is a major challenge as a resource potential (Conserve Energy Future, 2024). If solid waste management is fully developed with state-of-the-art technology and adequate financing, it could lead to more job cre- ation for local communities and residents. Solid waste, when poorly managed, poses serious environmental pollution problems with accompanying implications for human health. Additionally, urbanization and indus- trialization make solid waste management a daunting task for municipalities—one that becomes more complex as the pace of urban-

ization increases. This problem is particularly acute in the resource-poor countries of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where the struggle to meet basic survival needs often takes priority over environmental and health concerns. In September 2015, the United Nations Member States adopted the 17 Sustain- able Development Goals as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Goal 11 aims to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cit- ies and directs special attention to air qual- ity and waste management issues. Goal 12 aims to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse (United Nations, 2015). Moreover, solid waste management is impor- tant for the sustainable development of societ- ies in both low- and middle-income countries and high-income countries. Solid waste man- agement constitutes a great challenge that low- and middle-income countries are facing due to the rapid growth of their cities and industries. According to Wang (2019), waste management in the U.S. is regulated by the U.S. Environmen- tal Protection Agency under the Resource Con- servation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

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