UNIT:URBAN PLANNING

CODE:BAR 209
LECTURER: DR.MBATHI
NAME:OMORI JOHN OMONDI
REG NO:B02/1165/2020
Key features of poor solid waste disposal in urban
areas
Some of the major key features of poor solid waste
disposal in urban areas include:
 Non-effective collection systems
 Ineffective disposal
 Excessive waste where waste can be avoided
 Incompetent government institutions and structures
 General public behavior
 Insufficient knowledge

Case example:
[a]kibra sub county in Kenya
Poor solid waste disposal is a major problem in
most urban areas. A good example is the kibra area in
Kenya. The rapid increase in urban population and
industries has also led to increase in amount of solid
waste generated. There has been good initiative towards
curbing the problem, though not effectively, in some
urban areas, however, in other areas such as Kibera it has
remained to be an issue. One of the reasons why this has
continued to be an issue in Kibera is unregulated disposal
of solid waste due to non- effective collection systems
and ineffective disposal.
 The population in Kibera faces the challenge of
having insufficient toilets hence solid waste is not
directed through good systems. This has led to residents
inventing ‘flying toilets’ and some being forced to go for
nature calls within their own house which is a serious
health risk. Although government institutions have
shown little effort it has not been enough to eradicate the
problem. The stakeholders need to find the stumbling
blocks and recommend technologies necessary to handle
the problem.
Most of the challenge has also been said to arise
from the negligence and and arrogance of some of the
residents who despite knowing what systems have been
put in place to manage solid waste, choose to do as they
please putting their fellow residents at risk. Others
however have little knowledge of the impacts of their
actions which should prompt stakeholders to carry out
enough civic education in order to influence a change of
conduct in residents if this issue is to be dealt with.
 Poor waste disposal in kibera
residence

[b]The Philippines The Philippines’ waste generation

continues to rise with the increase in population, rise in
standards of living, increased economic growth and
industrialization especially in urban areas. Solid wastes
are generated from residential, commercial, industrial and
institutional sources. Commercial sources and markets
accounts for 27%.Institutions such as government offices,
medical and educational institutions accounts for about
12% .4 % is waste coming from the industries while
residential produce the most waste which is 57%.
Uncontrolled dumpsites has been a major problem for
the phillipines.There has also been a major problem with
poor segregation of recyclable, re-usable and
compostable waste by households.Improper waste
disposal,inefficient waste collection and lack of
disposal facilities have also been a major concern.

Plastic problem in Philippines

Information needed to analyze and understand the

challenge of poor waste disposal
To fully understand the challenge of poor solid waste
disposal, you need to analyze the sources of solid wastes,
the methods of disposal, waste composition and the
consequences\effects of poor solid waste disposal.
Solid waste in urban areas can be industrial,
commercial, institutional and residential. Residential
wastes accounts for more than half of the total solid
wastes in most urban areas. Examples include kitchen
scraps, yard waste, paper and cardboards, glass bottles
and miscellaneous items that people have broken or used
up and are thrown out as waste (e.g. ashes, old shoes,
worn out clothes, broken cooking pots, paper, baskets,
bags).
Industrial solid wastes include: different kinds of
materials like waste paper, plastic, wood, cardboard,
packaging materials, scrap metal, and every other solid
waste that are no longer useful or purposeful. Different
industries have different wastes depending on the raw
materials used, the process of manufacturing.
Institutional solid wastes are those that are
discarded by schools, nonmedical waste discarded by
hospitals, material discarded by nonmanufacturing
activities at prisons and government facilities, and
material discarded by other similar establishments or
facilities.
Some methods of solid wastes disposal include; sea
dumping, composting process, disposal into ploughing
fields, sanitary landfills, incineration method, Hog
feeding and salvaging processes. Solid waste disposal
must be managed to ensure the systems and practices are
environmentally friendly. Poor disposal of residential,
industrial and institutional solid waste can create
unhygenic conditions, and these conditions in turn lead to
pollution of the environment.
It is also important to know the composition of
solid wastes. Solid wastes typically contain more organic
components than other materials. Disposed waste mainly
contains biodegradable waste with the highest percentage,
then recyclable waste and then residuals which account
for the least percentage. Biodegradable wastes come
mostly from food waste and yard waste while recyclable
wastes include scrap metal, plastics, glass, textile, leather
and rubber. The significant shares of biodegradables and
recyclables indicate that composting and recycling have
great potential in reducing solid wastes.
Poor solid waste disposal may have immense effects
on the environment and on residents. It may lead to the
spread of different diseases in residential areas, land and
water pollution, obstruction of drains and loss of
biodiversity. The dispersal of debris from construction
sites causes pollution to the environment and dangerous
substances from electronic waste or industrial waste is
dangerous to the health of urban dwellers and the
environment. Open and unsanitary landfills contribute to
contamination of drinking water and can cause infection.
Role of architects in addressing poor solid waste
disposal
Solid waste management is an essential point of focus to
any practicing architect. Solid waste management has
been included in sustainable design strategies.
Architects should therefore design and specify materials
for reuse and recycling. Architectural design choices will
ultimately create demand with manufacturers to increase
research and development in recycled content materials
and increased use of recycling in the production of
materials. Architects should incorporate structures and
technologies in their designs that allow for onsite
handling, storage and processing, transport of solid waste,
waste recovery and final deposits.
References:
 https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/
urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
 https://www.pulpandpaper-technology.com/
articles/types-of-solid-waste-disposal-and-
management
 https://theconstructor.org/environmental-engg/
methods-of-solid-waste-disposal/4721/
 https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/sources-
effects-methods-of-solid-waste-management.php
 Bingemer, H.G. and P.J. Crutzen, 1987: The
production of CH4 from solid wastes. Journal of
Geophysical Research, 92(D2), pp. 2182-2187.
 Binner, E., 2002: The impact of mechanical-
biological pretreatment on the landfill behaviour
of solid wastes. Proceedings of the workshop on
Biowaste, Brussels, April 8-10, 2002. pp. 16.
 Bockreis, B. and I. Steinberg, 2005: Influence of
mechanical-biological waste pre-treatment
methods on gas formation in landfills. Waste
Management, 25, pp. 337-343.