Municipal Solid Waste Composition Analysis Study Juba ... - UNEP

Municipal Solid Waste Composition Analysis Study Juba ... - UNEP Municipal Solid Waste Composition Analysis Study Juba ... - UNEP

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1. BACKGROUND AND PROJECT RATIONALEThe rapid increase in both the volume and variety of solid and hazardous waste as a resultof continuous economic growth, urbanization and industrialization, is a growing problemfor both national and local governments around the world. Presently, it is estimated thatthe total amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated globally is increasing bysome 8 per cent per year (UNEP/IETC, 2009).Although considerable efforts are being made around the globe by many governmentsand other entities to tackle waste-related problems, there is still much to be done. TheWorld Bank estimates that in developing countries, municipalities spend up to 50 per centof their available budget on solid waste management. However, despite this remarkableexpenditure across the developing world, a large proportion of urban solid wastes remainuncollected. Furthermore, much of the population in general, and the poorest people inparticular, remain without service.The condition of waste management in the city of Juba in South Sudan is worsening wellabove the curve of these worrying global trends. Juba’s population is continuing to growrapidly – largely as a result of migration due to the conflict with Sudan. Exact figures arenot available and the existing data is somewhat contradictory. The 2008 Census held thepopulation of the city to be 375,000 but other sources, including the United Nations(UN), estimate that it is now over one million (Sudd Institute study-2012). Whatever theprecise numbers it is universally recognized that Juba is one of the fastest growing citiesin the world. The city’s already overstretched and disorganized waste managementsystems are ill-equipped to cope with the increase in demand precipitated by thispopulation growth. They are in urgent need of review and improvement.Clearly a comprehensive understanding of waste management processes in Juba is aprerequisite for the design of any remedial measures there. That understanding issignificantly hampered at present by a dearth of reliable waste generation andcharacterization data.With this critical relationship between knowledge and solutions in mind, the UnitedNations Environment Programme (UNEP) has commissioned this study to address theissue of the availability and accuracy of waste analysis data in Juba.It is worth noting that Juba is far from singular in this respect. Many African cities are indire need of improving their MSW management systems, and will need to clarify thestreams of relevant data if that need is to be met. So the results and conclusions from thework conducted in Juba and presented in this study will have a wider regional relevanceand application.The current picture at Juba’s Lagoon Dump Site is mixed. On the one hand the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency (JICA) is making significant improvements by fencingthe site; developing and implementing an operational plan; providing mechanical plantand equipment; and regularly applying cover material.Municipal solid waste composition analysis study – Juba, South Sudan 2

On the other hand, the engineered void-space within the disposal site remains relativelysmall and only offers approximately two years of operational capacity. Similarly, thelonger-term future of the site is questionable at best, not least because the facility is notincluded in the city’s Master Plan.Lastly, the surrounding area is urbanizing rapidly, largely because the government ismoving many of its ministries away from the congested city center.So for all these reasons, the need to use recycling to divert waste away from the LagoonDump - and thus extend the operational life of the site - is all the more pressing. Thelocation of the site’s footprint is shown in Figure 1 below.Figure 1 – the approximate location of the Lagoon Dump Site to the West of Juba CityIt is unclear whether there are any formal recycling activities ongoing within Juba. It iscertain however, that considerable volumes of material are extracted from the incomingwaste stream at the disposal site by several hundred waste-pickers or informal wasterecyclers.These informal waste recycling activities, which convert waste products, such as plasticand aluminum beverage containers into resources, are of great importance not only to thelocal economy but also to the wider process of waste management.Municipal solid waste composition analysis study – Juba, South Sudan 3

1. BACKGROUND AND PROJECT RATIONALEThe rapid increase in both the volume and variety of solid and hazardous waste as a resultof continuous economic growth, urbanization and industrialization, is a growing problemfor both national and local governments around the world. Presently, it is estimated thatthe total amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated globally is increasing bysome 8 per cent per year (<strong>UNEP</strong>/IETC, 2009).Although considerable efforts are being made around the globe by many governmentsand other entities to tackle waste-related problems, there is still much to be done. TheWorld Bank estimates that in developing countries, municipalities spend up to 50 per centof their available budget on solid waste management. However, despite this remarkableexpenditure across the developing world, a large proportion of urban solid wastes remainuncollected. Furthermore, much of the population in general, and the poorest people inparticular, remain without service.The condition of waste management in the city of <strong>Juba</strong> in South Sudan is worsening wellabove the curve of these worrying global trends. <strong>Juba</strong>’s population is continuing to growrapidly – largely as a result of migration due to the conflict with Sudan. Exact figures arenot available and the existing data is somewhat contradictory. The 2008 Census held thepopulation of the city to be 375,000 but other sources, including the United Nations(UN), estimate that it is now over one million (Sudd Institute study-2012). Whatever theprecise numbers it is universally recognized that <strong>Juba</strong> is one of the fastest growing citiesin the world. The city’s already overstretched and disorganized waste managementsystems are ill-equipped to cope with the increase in demand precipitated by thispopulation growth. They are in urgent need of review and improvement.Clearly a comprehensive understanding of waste management processes in <strong>Juba</strong> is aprerequisite for the design of any remedial measures there. That understanding issignificantly hampered at present by a dearth of reliable waste generation andcharacterization data.With this critical relationship between knowledge and solutions in mind, the UnitedNations Environment Programme (<strong>UNEP</strong>) has commissioned this study to address theissue of the availability and accuracy of waste analysis data in <strong>Juba</strong>.It is worth noting that <strong>Juba</strong> is far from singular in this respect. Many African cities are indire need of improving their MSW management systems, and will need to clarify thestreams of relevant data if that need is to be met. So the results and conclusions from thework conducted in <strong>Juba</strong> and presented in this study will have a wider regional relevanceand application.The current picture at <strong>Juba</strong>’s Lagoon Dump Site is mixed. On the one hand the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency (JICA) is making significant improvements by fencingthe site; developing and implementing an operational plan; providing mechanical plantand equipment; and regularly applying cover material.<strong>Municipal</strong> solid waste composition analysis study – <strong>Juba</strong>, South Sudan 2

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