Solid Waste Management in Rural Communities of Developing Countries: An Overview of Challenges and Opportunities

Giovanni Vinti () and Mentore Vaccari
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Giovanni Vinti: Research Centre on Appropriate Technologies for Environmental Management in Resource-Limited Countries (CeTAmb), University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Mentore Vaccari: Research Centre on Appropriate Technologies for Environmental Management in Resource-Limited Countries (CeTAmb), University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy

Clean Technol., 2022, vol. 4, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Solid waste management (SWM) in rural areas of many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represents a critical and underrated topic. However, almost half of the world’s population still lives in rural areas and an adequate SWM is crucial in reducing environmental and health threats. A lack of knowledge and appropriate tools often leads to inappropriate practices such as waste dumping and uncontrolled burning. However, appropriate methods can transform waste into resources and even guarantee a revenue source. This manuscript provides an overview of the state of the knowledge characterising SWM in rural communities of LMICs, analysing common practices and principal issues. Different solid waste fractions are considered. Virtuous approaches are presented, taking into account recent sustainable solutions. Considering that a relevant part of the world population is still living in rural areas, the benefits associated with an appropriate SWM may be enormous. Such activities may improve local conditions from social, environmental and health perspectives; furthermore, they may have a global impact on facing climate change and environmental pollution.

Keywords: rural areas; SWM; LMICs; circular economy; waste hierarchy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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