International Journal of Waste Resources

SWOT analysis as a tool to analyse landfill management practice in South Africa

World Congress on Sustainable Waste Management

June 21, 2023 | Webinar

Prince O. Njoku

University of Venda, South Africa

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Int J Waste Resour

Abstract:

Introduction and Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with the management of landfills in South Africa. Approximately, 90% of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in South Africa are been sent to landfills. Landfill emissions are directly associated with environmental problems such as its direct contribution to climate change; potential explosions and fires; contaminate soil and water; contribute to environmental nuisance; which affect the health of humans etc. Methodology: SWOT analysis technique and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were incorporated as the basis for analysis of the study. The data for this study were sourced from relevant, stakeholders, landfill workers, truck drivers, reclaimers, waste researchers, existing literature and working documents on waste and landfill management in South Africa and around the world. Random sampling technique was used to identify 44 participants for this study. This study considers some factors such as regulations and policies, skilled professionals, public participation, waste collection infrastructure, development of alternative waste management practices etc. Results: The findings of this study shows that the major the strengths of landfill practice is the ability for landfill manage approximately 80% of South Africa’s waste for over several decades. Similarly, the associated weakness that was identified mostly by the respondent was that landfills are breeding ground for insects, flies, rodents and bad odour which in turn affects human health. Conclusion: Landfilling management system is becoming an outdated system and it hinders us from harnessing the resource found in MSW generation. There is an urgent call for the country to focus more on other alternative management systems like recycling, biogas production, bio fertilizer, composting and even incineration. This will in turn help boost the economy of South Africa in the aspect of energy, agriculture and transportation sections.

Biography :

Njoku Prince Obinna has a B.tech in Environmental Technology from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, (FUTO) Nigeria. He bagged his Master’s Degree in the Department of Ecology and Resource Management from the University of Venda South Africa. He is currently a PhD student in school of Environmental sciences in the University of Venda, South Africa. He is an active researcher and kin in the reduction of greenhouse gases from solid waste and potential renewal of the gases emitted. He specializes on waste management as a source of renewable energy. He has conducted several researches on Municipal Solid Waste Management and its potential as a source of fuel in Africa. He is currently developing a model to simulate landfill gas emissions into optimum renewable energy. He loves travelling and making new friends.