Establishing A Waste Management System

response to these new attitudes and ultimately reduce litter concentrations. Also, urban areas in developing countries tend to prioritize issues of shelter, food, security, and other basic needs over waste management. Managing waste is often not a priority until it becomes a public health concern or the environmental damage is so severe that is affects higher priorities.

ESTABLISHING A WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Given the barriers to government-organized solid waste management in developing countries, the literature offers a number of approaches for creating a locally-focused waste management system. First, a shift in the local cultural and social context is necessary to bring about public awareness and a change in attitude regarding waste. This ultimately helps shape human behavior moving forward.

Secondly, if the government can manage to serve the basic, most pressing needs of the population first such as food, shelter, security and livelihood, then there will be the opportunity to incorporate proper waste management. In order for this to happen, governments and institutions need to have clear roles and legal responsibilities so that inaction, controversy, and effectiveness do not disrupt potential for progress (Marshall and Farabakhsh, 2013). Alternatively, if the political and economic situation does not make good governance feasible, involving the private sector in waste management is an option. However, privatizing waste management is only successful if it includes competition, transparency, and accountability.

Taking it a step further, public-private partnerships are an option as well, specifically “pro-poor public-private partnerships.” These partnerships engage the system’s users, acknowledges the rights of the informal sector, and is obligated to serving the poor in a fair and effective manner (Wilson et al., 2012).

No matter the approach, the solution should be affordable (Wilson et al., 2012) and specific to the local context. In other words, waste management plans need to be considered on a case-by-case basis and shaped by the system’s users in addition to experts. At the same time, it is important to allow for a broad view of waste that connects various systems and welcomes complexity. Effective waste management avoids concentrating on a single link within the entire system (Marshall and Farabakhsh, 2013).

144 Small Dumpsters Located in Ocupação Anchieta.