Governance mechanisms for managing municipal solid waste: A review

The rural-urban drift has led to increased population and generation of municipal solid waste. Local governments are unable to cope based on current governance mechanisms resulting into unsustainable management of municipal solid waste. This results into unsustainable management of municipal solid waste thereby threatening both public health and the environment. The solid waste management challenge has been approached with a technical solution overlooking governance mechanisms as can be evident by the persistent municipal solid waste challenges. Governance mechanisms are meant to exercise control of the sector and if enhanced would result into sustainable municipal solid waste management. A literature review was conducted to identify governance mechanisms for managing municipal solid waste in developed and developing countries. The study has shown that developed countries have implemented robust policy and laws and have strong institutions that provide oversight roles for managing municipal solid waste. Zambia has governance mechanisms for managing municipal solid waste. However, the country still faces challenges in managing municipal solid waste and therefore calls for enhanced governance. The results of the study would be useful to policy makers, waste managers, the private sector and international partners in order to achieve sustainable municipal solid waste management.