2.3 million people reside, generate 385,000 tons of solid waste yearly (Government of the Republic of Benin, 2023). More waste is produced by the five municipalities within Grand Nokoué com- pared with the other 77 municipalities of Benin, and most of the waste is generated from households, industries, agriculture, and business activities. More specifically, solid waste from residences and businesses includes garbage, plastic, paper, glass, leather, cardboard, metal, electronics, bot- tles, cans, and cartons. Further, industrial waste includes biomedical and chemical materials. Although Benin does not have many industrial plants, it does have refiner- ies and chemical processing plants. Benin also generates construction and demolition wastes such as cement, concrete, iron, steel, wood, and plastics (AFRIMAG, 2019). Over the past 20 years, authorities in Benin have been empowered to manage waste at local levels since the decentralization of the coun- try (AFRIMAG, 2019). Waste operators now collect household garbage from each home and transport it to transfer stations, which has resulted in an increase in waste collection and disposal from 48% to 65% in 2003 in the city of Cotonou, for example (Oxfam-Québec, 2007). Another solid waste management initiative was launched by the government of Benin under the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development in February 2019 to collect and treat the thousands of tons of waste produced by the five cities in Grand Nokoué. According to Magoum (2020), the goals of this project are to reduce the impact of waste on the environment and improve the well-being of the population. The project includes collec- tion and landfilling, with plans to collect 90% of the waste in the country. Additionally, biomedical waste treatment plants that use ozone are being considered as an alternative to full reliance on total waste incineration for biomedical waste. Ozonation
allows some of the materials that are clas- sified as biomedical waste to be made reus- able. This type of plant has been in operation since February 2020 in Cotonou, the major city of Grand Nokoué, where the biggest hos- pitals and clinics in the country are located (Magoum, 2020). The plant’s capacity can handle an estimated 200 kg of biomedical waste per hour, which is 10 times the capacity of an incinerator. This biomedical waste han- dling method is planned for expansion to 3 of the other 12 districts in the country, with the hope of expansion throughout the country. Lastly, recycling is also being promoted by the Sèmè City Development Agency with the support of UNICEF Benin, which is imple- menting a brick manufacturing unit to make use of the large amount of recyclable plastics. Magoum (2020) reported that these bricks will be used to build classrooms. Solid waste management continues to be a serious environmental issue in Benin, espe- cially in Grand Nokoué, a metropolis where five major cities are located. Even though per capita generation of solid waste in Benin is below the world average, waste generation is increasing and will require pragmatic man- agement in the years ahead. Fortunately, mea- sures are being developed to facilitate public and private sectors to enter the area of solid waste management, with projects aimed at reducing solid waste and improving its col- lection and management. Conclusion and Recommendations For further improvement in solid waste collection and management in Benin, as well as in other low- and middle-income coun- tries, we recommend: 1.Residents should be educated about eco- logical and human health consequences of the waste they generate. 2.The government, through regulation and enforcement, should ensure adequate train-
ing in the use of personal protective equip- ment (PPE) for waste collectors and manag- ers of solid waste management facilities. 3.Waste transfer centers should be fortified with fences and monitoring cameras to prevent open dumping in the surrounding areas, and, in turn, prevent the breeding of pests such as flies and rodents. 4.Municipalities should establish local com- posting and recycling centers to promote conservation of resources and reduce total dependence on incineration and landfills. 5.Municipalities should install leachate col- lection systems and soil barriers in landfills to prevent groundwater pollution. 6.Employees who are engaged in waste man- agement and disposal should be provided with on-site handwashing and shower facilities to prevent primary and secondary exposure to hazards. 7.Waste facilities should conduct perimeter monitoring for air, soil, and water pollution. 8.Waste management employees should have a workplace medical history based on physical examinations that occur pre- and post-employment and annually. 9.The government should establish house- hold hazardous waste collection centers across the country for chemicals (e.g., paint, pesticides) to prevent these hazard- ous materials from being sent to landfills. The state-of-the-art management of waste presents many benefits that could positively a£ect pollution reduction and promote pub- lic health. There is also the potential for bet- ter conservation of resources and energy, and accompanying improvement of in-country employment opportunities. Corresponding Author: Tunde M. Akinmola- dun, Adjunct Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, 1 Aerospace Boule- vard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Email: akinmolt@erau.edu
References
AFRIMAG. (2019). Benin: Waste management, an inecient and static action since 1990 . Conserve Energy Future. (2024). What is solid waste management? Sources and methods of solid waste management . https://www.con
serve-energy-future.com/sources-e£ects-methods-of-solid-waste- management.php Government of the Republic of Benin. (2023) Modernization of household solid waste management in Greater Nokoué [Website
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