The Relationship between Waste Management Practices and Human Health: New Perspective and Consequences

Samuel Dare  Oluwagbayide; Francis Olawale Abulude; Akinyinka Akinnusotu; Kikelomo Mabinuola Arifalo

doi:10.47540/ijias.v4i1.1080

Authors

Samuel Dare Oluwagbayide Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmetal Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Nigeria
Francis Olawale Abulude Environmental and Sustainable Research Group, Science and Education Development Institute, Nigeria
Akinyinka Akinnusotu Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Nigeria
Kikelomo Mabinuola Arifalo Department of Chemical Sciences, Bamidele Olumilua University of Science, and Technology, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47540/ijias.v4i1.1080

Keywords:

Environmental Impact, Public Health, Recycling, Waste Reduction

Abstract

Waste management, an integral aspect of modern life, exerts a profound influence on both public health and the environment. While existing research explores the environmental impact of various waste management practices, there is a paucity of studies investigating the direct health effects on humans from these practices. This article aims to address this gap by examining the intricate interplay between specific waste management strategies, such as open burning or landfill leachate management, and their potential to cause respiratory illnesses, birth defects, or other health problems in urban areas. Drawing from existing knowledge and recent research, it underscores the imperative of adopting an integrated waste management approach that harmonizes environmental preservation and health considerations. Furthermore, the review spotlights emerging technologies and innovative methodologies that hold promise in mitigating potential health hazards associated with conventional waste management practices. It accentuates the intricate connection between waste management and human health, underscoring the need for holistic strategies that encompass both community welfare and environmental sustainability. This paper advocates for sustainable waste management approaches that not only alleviate health concerns but also promote resource recovery and community engagement. Policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders are encouraged to collaborate in the adoption of effective waste management methods that safeguard both the environment and human health. By recognizing the intrinsic link between environmental and health issues, a harmonized approach can be forged to address them.

References

Adobe Stock (2023). Reduce reuse recycle. https://stock.adobe.com/ng/search?k=reduce+reuse+recycle. (Accessed 6th May 2023).

Adogu, P., Uwakwe, K., Egenti, N., Okwuoha, A. and Nkwocha, I. (2015) Assessment of Waste Management Practices among Residents of Owerri Municipal Imo State Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Protection, 6, 446-456.

Alao, M.A., Popoola, O.M., and Ayodele, T.R. (2021). Selection of waste-to-energy technology for distributed generation using IDOCRIW-Weighted TOPSIS method: A case study of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. Renewable Energy, 178, November 2021, 162-183.

Alyssa R. Pfadt-Trilling, Timothy A. Volk, and Marie-Odile P. Climate Change Impacts of Electricity Generated at a Waste-to-Energy Facility. Fortier Environmental Science & Technology. 55 (3), 1436-1445.

Amasuomo, E. & Baird, J. (2016). The Concept of Waste and Waste Management. Journal of Management and Sustainability; 6(4), 88-96.

Amui, L. B. L., Jabbour, C. J. C., de Sousa Jabbour, A. B. L., and Kannan, D. (2017). Sustainability as a dynamic organizational capability: A systematic review and a future agenda toward a sustainable transition. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142, 308–322.

Anthony, G.B. and Essien, C.K. (2018). Sustainable Management of Solid Waste in Nigerian Urban Centres. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 15(3), 1-10.

Asare, W., Kwarteg, S.O., Donkor, E.A., and Rockson, M.A.D. (2020). Recovery of Municipal Solid Waste Recyclables under Different Incentive Schemes in Tamale, Ghana. Sustainability, 12, 9869.

Babaee Tirkolaee EB, Aydın NS (2021). A sustainable medical waste collection and transportation model for pandemics. Waste Management Research. 39(1_suppl):34–44

Bagui, B. E., & Arellano, L. R. A. C. (2021). Zero Waste Store: A Way to Promote Environment-friendly Living. International Journal of Qualitative Research, 1(2), 150-155.

Bashaar, M.; Thawani, V.; Hassali, M.A.; Saleem, F. (2017). Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among general public in Kabul. BMC Public Health, 17, 45.

Bassey IU, Brooks A, Asikong BE, Andy IE. (2015). Environmental and public health aspects of solid waste management at the Lemna dumpsite in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Tropical Disease and Health. 10(3):1–13.

Central Queensland University (2021). Solid waste incineration works. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/introduction-to-environmental-science/0/steps/271560. (Accessed 6h May 2023).

Chew, X., Khaw, K.W., Alnoor, A. et al. (2023). Circular economy of medical waste: novel intelligent medical waste management framework based on extension linear Diophantine fuzzy FDOSM and neural network approach. Environmental Science Pollution Research. 30, 60473–60499.

Coracero, E. E., Gallego, R. J., Frago, K. J. M., & Gonzales, R. J. R. (2021). A Long-Standing Problem: A Review on the Solid Waste Management in the Philippines. Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI), 2(3), 213-220.

Debrah, J.K.; Vidal, D.G.; Dinis, M.A.P. (2021). Raising Awareness on Solid Waste Management through Formal Education for Sustainability: A Developing Countries Evidence Review. Recycling, 6, 6.

Devi A, Ravindra K, Kaur M, Kumar R (2019). Evaluation of biomedical waste management practices in public and private sector of health care facilities in India. Environmental Science Pollution Research. 26(25):26082–26089

Direct Compost Solutions (2024). 8 methods of compositing. Eco-eze Compost Shipping Worldwide. https://directcompostsolutions.com/8-methods-composting/. (accessed 17 March 2024).

Ehtasham, L. (2022). An Overview of Municipal Solid Waste Collection in Singapore, Mongolia, and Nepal. Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI), 3(2), 122-127.

Esmaeilian B., Wang B., Lewis K., Duarte F., Ratti, C., and Behdad, S. (2018). The future of waste management in smart and sustainable cities: A review and concept paper. Waste Management, 81, 177-195

European Commission (2019). Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). [online]. Available on https://ec.europa.eu/ environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm. Accessed 30 January 2020. 10.

Fadhullah, W., Imran, N.I.N., Ismail, S.N.S. (2022). Household solid waste management practices and perceptions among residents in the East Coast of Malaysia. BMC Public Health 22, 1.

Ghasemi, M.K.; Yusuff, R.M. (2016). Advantages and disadvantages of healthcare waste treatment and disposal alternatives: Malaysian scenario. Polish Journal Environmental Student. 25, 17–25.

Gnimadi, C. J. I., Aboah, M., & Gawou, K. (2022). Using Factor Analysis to Understand the Influence of Individual Perception on Plastic Waste Disposal. Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI), 3(3), 194-204.

Hassan, N.Y.I., Badawi, E.Y.M., Mostafa, D.E.A.S., Wahed, N.A., Mohamed, M.S., Abdelhamid, A.N., Ashraf, M., Asry, H., Bassiony, D. et al. (2023). Compositing: An eco-friendly solution for organic waste management to mitigate the effects of climate change. Innovare Journal of Social Sciences. 11(4), 1-7.

Heller, M.H. (2017). Economic incentives in household waste management: just a waste? relational approach to agents and structures in household waste sorting. Philosophiae Doctor Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Bioscience Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric (PhD). Thesis 2017: 76.

Ibrahim, I.D., Hamam, Y., Alayiamiru, T., Sodiku, E.R., Kupolati, W.K., Ndambuki, J.M., and Eze, A.A. (2021). A review on Africa energy supply through renewable energy production: Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and South Africa as a case study. Energy Strategy Reviews. 38, 100740.

iStock (2023). Landfill Pictures, Images, and Stock Photos. https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=landfill. (Accessed 6th May 2023)

Jutta Gutberlet & Sayed Mohammad Nazim Uddin (2018): Household waste and health risks affecting waste pickers and the environment in low- and middle-income countries. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 23 (4) DOI:10.1080/10773525.2018.1484996

Kalkanis, K., Alexakis, D.E., Kyriakis, E. et al. Transforming Waste to Wealth, Achieving Circular Economy. Circ. Econ. Sust. 2, 1541–1559.

Karmaker, A.K., Rahma, M.M., Hossain, M.A., Ahmed, M.R. (2020). Exploration and corrective measures of greenhouse gas emission from fossil fuel power stations for Bangladesh. Journal of Cleaner Production. 244, 20 January 2020, 118645.

Kaza, S.; Yao, L.; Bhada-Tata, P.; Woerden, V. (2018). What Is Waste 2: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050; World Bank Publications; The World Bank Group: Washington, DC, USA.

Kenny, C.; Priyadarshini, A. (2021). Review of Current Healthcare Waste Management Methods and Their Effect on Global Health. Healthcare 2021, 9, 284.

Khudyakova T. and Lyaskovskaya E. (2021). Improving the Sustainability of Regional Development in the Context of Waste Management. Sustainability. 13(4):1755.

Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., and Hekkert, M. (2017). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 127, 221–232.

Lagman-Bautista, J. (2020). Crafting a Theoretical Framework on Waste Management: A Case For Sustainable Cities. International Journal of GEOMATE, Special Issue on Science, Engineering and Environment. 18(68), 80- 86.

Lema, G., Mesfun, M.G., Eshete, A. et al. (2019). Assessment of status of solid waste management in Asella town, Ethiopia. BMC Public Health 19, 1261.

Maia, R., Ottoni, M., Barros, J., and dos Santos, M.A. (2021). Assessment of the waste management reporting in the electricity sector. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption. Volume 3, 100031.

Mostakin, K., Arefin, M.A., Islam, M.T., Shifullah, K.M., and Islam, M. (2021). Harnessing energy from the waste produced in Bangladesh: evaluating potential technologies. Heliyon, 7(10), e08221.

Niazi, N.K.; Murtaza, B.; Bibi, I.; Shahid, M.; White, J.C.; Nawaz, M.F.; Bashir, S.; Shakoor, M.B.; Choppala, G.; Murtaza, G.; et al. (2016). Removal and Recovery of Metals by Biosorbents and Biochars Derived from Biowastes; Elsevier Inc.: Amsterdam, The Netherlands,; ISBN 9780128039069.

Okwesili, J., Ndukwe, C., Nwuzor, C.I. (2016). Urban Solid Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability In Abakaliki Urban, Nigeria. European Scientific Journal. 12(2), 155-183.

Omang, D. I., John, G. E., Inah, S. A., & Bisong, J. O. (2021). Public health implication of solid waste generated by households in Bekwarra Local Government area. African Health Sciences, 21(3), 1467–1473.

Opoku, L., Gyimah, A.G., and Addai, B. (2022). Harnessing waste-to-energy potential in developing countries: a case study of rural Ghana. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 29:58011–58021.

Padmanabhan, K.; Barik, D. (2019). Health hazards of medical waste and its disposal. Energy Toxic Org. Waste Heat Power Gener., 99–118.

Saadeh, D., Al-Khatib, I. A., & Anayah, F. M. (2022). Evaluating strategies for sustainable recovery and recycling of plastic waste in the West Bank of Palestine: The perspectives of plastic companies. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(1), 233.

Sahle-Demessie E et al (2020) Material recovery from electronic waste using pyrolysis.

Scarlat, N.; Motola, V.; Dallemand, J.F.; Monforti-Ferrario, F.; Mofor, L. (2015). Evaluation of energy potential of Municipal Solid Waste from African urban areas. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev., 50, 1269–1286.

Sharma HB, Vanapalli KR, Cheela VRS, Ranjan VP, Jaglan AK, Dubey B, et al. (2020). Challenges, opportunities, and innovations for effective solid waste management during and post-COVID-19 pandemic. Resour Conserv Recycl.; 162:105052.

Shi, H.; Liu, H.C.; Li, P.; Xu, X.G. (2017). An integrated decision-making approach for assessing healthcare waste treatment technologies from a multiple stakeholder. Waste Management., 59, 508–517.

Shtterstock (2023). Compost. https://www.shutterstock.com/search/compost. (Accessed 6th May 2023)

Teshome, Z.T., Ayele, Z.T., and Abib, M.I. (2022). Assessment of solid waste management practices in Kebridehar city Somali regional state, Ethiopia. Heliyon, 9(8), e10451.

Tomita A, Cuadros DF, Burns JK, Tanser F, Slotow R. (2020). Exposure to waste sites and their impact on health: a panel and geospatial analysis of nationally representative data from South Africa, 2008-2015. Lancet Planet Health. 4(6):e223-e234.

Wani, N.R., Rather, R.A., Farooq, A. et al. New insights in food security and environmental sustainability through waste food management. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 17835–17857 (2024).

Williams, P.A.; Narra, S.; Antwi, E.; Quaye, W.; Hagan, E.; Asare, R.; Owusu-Arthur, J.; Ekanthalu, V.S. (2023). Review of Barriers to Effective Implementation of Waste and Energy Management Policies in Ghana: Implications for the Promotion of Waste-to-Energy Technologies. Waste, 1, 313-332.

Yakubu, Y.; Zhou, J. (2019). Novel approach to quantify municipal solid waste management hierarchy based on analytical hierarchy process. International Journal of Environmental Science Technology. 16, 1897–1908.

Yang H, Ma M, Thompson JR, Flower RJ. (2018). Waste management, informal recycling, environmental pollution and public health. Journal Epidemiology Community Health. 72(3):237–43.

Zasz, Andrew (1994), Ecopopulism: Toxic Waste and the Movement for Environmental Justice. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Zhou X, Yang J, Xu S, Wang J, Zhou Q, Li Y, et al. (2020). Rapid in-situ composting of household food waste. Process Saf Environmental Prot.;141:259–66

Ziraba, A.K., Haregu, T.N. and Mberu, B. (2016). A review and framework for understanding the potential impact of poor solid waste management on health in developing countries. Arch Public Health 74, 55.

Zolnikov TR, da Silva RC, Tuesta AA, Marques CP, Cruvinel VRN. (2018). Ineffective waste site closures in Brazil: a systematic review on continuing health conditions and occupational hazards of waste collectors. Waste Management. 80:26–39.