A review of factors associated with indiscriminate dumping of waste in eleven African countries

Abstract

Most developing countries grapple with management of solid waste and environmental health risks associated with insanitary conditions. Indiscriminate dumping of household and industrial waste remains an alternative means of waste disposal for communities that have no access to reliable refuse removal services. This phenomenon affects not only developing countries but developed ones as well, although the literature points out that it is more prevalent in the latter. The aim of this paper is to examine the factors that are associated with the prevalence of indiscriminate dumping of waste in communities in order to establish the cause-effect relationship between these factors and environmental health risks in these communities. This paper reviewed peer-reviewed articles on the field of waste management. An approach that looks at waste management factors individually as well as holistically is needed to curb and/or end this practice.

Keywords:

• causes of waste dumps
• indiscriminate dumping
• environmental health
• waste management
• African waste problems
• refuse removal