Best Practices for Solid Waste Management: A Guide for Decision-Makers in Developing Countries

The Best Practices for Solid Waste Management: A Guide for Decision-Makers in Developing Countries (Guide) is focused on best practices for solid waste management in medium and large urban centers in developing countries (generally referred to as “cities” in the Guide), because they face the most substantial solid waste management challenges. Given their waste generation projections, these challenges will only become more acute in the future and decision-makers have the opportunity to take important and effective action. Portions of the Guide might also be applicable to rural towns, villages, or other small jurisdictions.

The Guide’s primary audience is state and local government authorities in these cities. These authorities typically include decision-makers, policymakers, and agency staff involved in solid waste management. Aspects of the Guide might be applicable to other stakeholders such as nongovernmental organizations, private sector actors, or residents.

The Guide is not intended to be a step-by-step implementation manual, but it does highlight many such manuals and other resources that local authorities and decision-makers can refer to for more detailed technical guidance. Approaches that may be successful in one city or region may not function everywhere, so the Guide presents decision-makers with the information and resources to improve solid waste management within the context of their given situation. The following page summarizes the Guide’s sections.