Comparative study on municipal solid waste management systems of Maputo City, Mozambique and Chongqing City, China

Abstract

The Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) system in Maputo City, Mozambique, presents several flaws and challenges mainly related to limited financial, human and material resources, as well as low public awareness and participation. This is a South–South comparison study between Maputo City and Chongqing City, PR China, regarding their MSWM systems, in order to identify improvement opportunities for Maputo from Chongqing experiences. Three components of the system are the focus of the study: management authorities; waste stream, processes and infrastructures; and waste household generators. Improvement proposals include: switch to a decentralised institutional structure approach, lean towards a financially sustainable management authority with capable human resources, improve and adopt adequate techniques to handle, treat and finally dispose of the waste, and take active and comprehensive measures to increase public awareness and participation levels.