skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Current status of solid waste management in small island developing states: A review

Abstract

Highlights: • Waste management is a matter of great concern for small island developing states. • On average, waste generation rate in these islands amounts to 1.29 kg/capita/day. • Illegal dumping and landfilling prevail in most small island developing states. • Sustainable waste management practices, previously absent, are now emerging. • However, many challenges still hinder the implementation of these practices. - Abstract: This article reviews the current status of waste management in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the challenges that are faced in solid waste management. The waste generation rates of SIDS were compared within the three geographic regions namely Caribbean SIDS, Pacific SIDS and Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China (AIMS) SIDS and with countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). Only Pacific SIDS had a waste generation rate less than 1 kg/capita/day. The waste generation rates for the three SIDS regions averaged 1.29 kg/capita/day while that for OECD countries was at a mean value of 1.35 kg/capita/day. The waste compositions in the different SIDS regions were almost similar owing to comparable consumption patterns while these differed to a large extent with wastes generated in OECD countries. In SIDS, the major fraction ofmore » MSW comprised of organics (44%) followed by recyclables namely paper, plastics, glass and metals (total: 43%). In contrast, MSW in OECD countries consisted mainly of recyclables (43%) followed by organics (37%). This article also reviewed the other functional elements of the waste management systems in SIDS. Several shortcomings were noted in the process of waste collection, transfer and transport namely the fact of having outdated collection vehicles and narrow roads which are inaccessible. Among the waste management practices in SIDS, waste disposal via landfilling, illegal dumping and backyard burning were favoured most of the time at the expense of sustainable waste treatment technologies such as composting, anaerobic digestion and recycling.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. University of Mauritius, Réduit (Mauritius)
  2. Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius, Réduit (Mauritius)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22472554
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Waste Management
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 43; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0956-053X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; ANAEROBIC DIGESTION; CHINA; COMPOSTING; INDIAN OCEAN; METALS; OECD; PLASTICS; RECYCLING; REVIEWS; SANITARY LANDFILLS; SOLID WASTES; THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES; TRANSPORT

Citation Formats

Mohee, Romeela, Mauthoor, Sumayya, Bundhoo, Zumar M.A., Somaroo, Geeta, Soobhany, Nuhaa, and Gunasee, Sanjana. Current status of solid waste management in small island developing states: A review. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/J.WASMAN.2015.06.012.
Mohee, Romeela, Mauthoor, Sumayya, Bundhoo, Zumar M.A., Somaroo, Geeta, Soobhany, Nuhaa, & Gunasee, Sanjana. Current status of solid waste management in small island developing states: A review. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2015.06.012
Mohee, Romeela, Mauthoor, Sumayya, Bundhoo, Zumar M.A., Somaroo, Geeta, Soobhany, Nuhaa, and Gunasee, Sanjana. 2015. "Current status of solid waste management in small island developing states: A review". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2015.06.012.
@article{osti_22472554,
title = {Current status of solid waste management in small island developing states: A review},
author = {Mohee, Romeela and Mauthoor, Sumayya and Bundhoo, Zumar M.A. and Somaroo, Geeta and Soobhany, Nuhaa and Gunasee, Sanjana},
abstractNote = {Highlights: • Waste management is a matter of great concern for small island developing states. • On average, waste generation rate in these islands amounts to 1.29 kg/capita/day. • Illegal dumping and landfilling prevail in most small island developing states. • Sustainable waste management practices, previously absent, are now emerging. • However, many challenges still hinder the implementation of these practices. - Abstract: This article reviews the current status of waste management in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the challenges that are faced in solid waste management. The waste generation rates of SIDS were compared within the three geographic regions namely Caribbean SIDS, Pacific SIDS and Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China (AIMS) SIDS and with countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). Only Pacific SIDS had a waste generation rate less than 1 kg/capita/day. The waste generation rates for the three SIDS regions averaged 1.29 kg/capita/day while that for OECD countries was at a mean value of 1.35 kg/capita/day. The waste compositions in the different SIDS regions were almost similar owing to comparable consumption patterns while these differed to a large extent with wastes generated in OECD countries. In SIDS, the major fraction of MSW comprised of organics (44%) followed by recyclables namely paper, plastics, glass and metals (total: 43%). In contrast, MSW in OECD countries consisted mainly of recyclables (43%) followed by organics (37%). This article also reviewed the other functional elements of the waste management systems in SIDS. Several shortcomings were noted in the process of waste collection, transfer and transport namely the fact of having outdated collection vehicles and narrow roads which are inaccessible. Among the waste management practices in SIDS, waste disposal via landfilling, illegal dumping and backyard burning were favoured most of the time at the expense of sustainable waste treatment technologies such as composting, anaerobic digestion and recycling.},
doi = {10.1016/J.WASMAN.2015.06.012},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22472554}, journal = {Waste Management},
issn = {0956-053X},
number = ,
volume = 43,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}