Municipal solid waste management in low-income economies: Trialling a socio-technical assessment framework in NIgeria towards better management

Hope O Iyamu

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation is an inevitable by-product of human activity. Increasing urbanisation, industrialisation, wealth accumulation, and surging world population contribute to increased MSW generation. Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) is a challenging issue for low-income economies, resulting in socio-economic impact, health and environmental consequences, urban aesthetics, and infrastructure deterioration. These challenges often impact the transitioning of MSWM from mostly unsustainable to a sustainable level. An understanding of these challenges requires the consideration of historical developments and common themes in MSWM. This understanding fosters socio-technical systems analysis of MSWM, developing MSWM thematic frameworks and transition models, and validating the framework by stakeholders' responses in qualitative research. Therefore, this thesis presents a pragmatic approach to sustainable MSWM in low-income countries, integrating a participatory process that follows the development of theoretical frameworks and models. This thesis achieved the following results: • The development of the socio-economic, technical, and environmental system's interactions using a socio-technical systems analysis of waste to energy (WtE) from MSWM to promote sustainable resource recovery programs in low-income economies. This socio-technical systems analysis of WtE profoundly demonstrates the second life of MSW through the promotion and appreciation of the matrix that connects disciplinary perspectives to the understanding of MSWM by individuals, communities, and society. • The development of a holistic MSWM framework, underpinned by the different interacting factors of policy, environmental, socio-economic, and technology (PEST), to address the common themes challenging the historical transition of MSWM from an unsustainable to a more sustainable level. The PEST thematic framework introduces a holistic approach that considers the historical assessment of MSWM transition as essential. • The development of a nuanced Dimensional Evaluation of Waste management Transition (DEWasT) model using the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP). The DEWasT model, prompted by the theory of MLP, clarifies societal factors and identifies triggers for MSWM sustainability. This model explains the impact of MSWM at different socio-economic levels. Also, the model is an improvement on the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) developed by the Collaborative Working Group (CWG) on Solid Waste Management in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and closes the inertia gaps in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). • The translation of theoretical insights into an applied sustainable MSWM transition, using the triangulation method in a descriptive analysis of stakeholders' responses. This descriptive analysis validated not only the PEST thematic framework but also advocates using mixed methods as an intervention tool towards sustainable MSWM. This research offers policymakers and stakeholders practical guidelines for sustainable MSWM innovations and transitions. Also, it promotes a paradigm change to MSWM practices and insights into the significance of applying mixed methods in the holistic design of frameworks that informs MSWM policies. The success of the applicability of the framework and models is subject to adaptation in the implementation location. This adaptation calls for further research on conflicting interests amongst MSWM stakeholders. This adaptation is achievable with field investigations that would recruit a wider audience of stakeholders, including various institutions, industrial partners, community-based organisations, and regulatory agencies. Keywords: DEWasT, MLP, MSWM, PEST, Socio-technical, WtE

Municipal solid waste management in low-income economies: Trialling a socio-technical assessment framework in NIgeria towards better management

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