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Solid waste management in north coastal Andhra

A study conducted in Accra, Ghana, by Oteng- waste, a responsibility often constrained by financial
Ababio et al. explored three strategies for addressing constraints. Traditional city trash management methods
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urbanization challenges: community-led SWM, storm are not only costly but also rely on a high standard of
drain widening, and retention pond construction. cleanliness, which is frequently unachievable in low-
Among these, retention pond construction yielded both income regions. Consequently, numerous municipal
direct economic benefits, such as reduced flood damage, companies have implemented low-cost waste disposal
and indirect benefits, including fewer disruptions to technologies that require a minimal budget to operate.
transportation and commerce, accumulating a total However, the operation and maintenance costs of such
value stream of Ghanaian Cedi 284 million. Similarly, waste management systems are often underestimated
a study by Mugambi and Windberg in Naivasha, and typically borne by the local corporation.
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Kenya, highlighted the link between inadequate waste The chosen selected are highly significant and
management and poor sanitation, revealing that 65% of relevant to the current situation. Pilot studies conducted
urban residents lack access to basic sanitation services, in several municipal corporations in Visakhapatnam,
while 17% lack safe drinking water. The global trend Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam have shown that these
toward circular economies emphasizes waste resource municipal authorities are seeking efficient MSWM
recovery as a crucial component of sustainable urban solutions and are facing issues with municipal solid
development. Effective strategies, such as waste waste, particularly due to the rapid expansion of markets.
segregation at source, composting of organic waste, and The primary goals of the study are to examine the
conversion of non-biodegradable waste into recyclable current municipal waste management practices in
materials, are necessary to alleviate the burden on selected municipal corporations, identify the various
landfills and promote sustainable urban infrastructure. problems faced by corporations and stakeholders,
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Studies have also highlighted the significance of waste- enhance waste management practices in the sample
to-energy technologies, such as anaerobic digestion areas, and, ultimately, provide a workable solution
and incineration, as viable alternatives to traditional based on the data collected. Additionally, this study is
landfilling. 36,37 highly pertinent to the current state of society.
These approaches align with global waste reduction
policies, such as the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) 1.4. Research scope
framework, promoted by international organizations For municipal corporations, the SWM program is a
like the United Nations Environment Programme. 38,39 crucial decision. It is necessary to consider both the
However, challenges remain in terms of financial economic viability of the chosen program and the
constraints, lack of public awareness, and inadequate limitations of the currently available disposal options.
enforcement of waste management policies. Recycling programs are gaining popularity, but their
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Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted actual economic viability is still low. This is primarily
approach that integrates policy reforms, technological due to the high costs of recycled materials, with some
advancements, and behavioral change among urban materials not even covering the cost of recycling.
populations to create resilient and sustainable waste Furthermore, the pricing dynamics of the secondary
management systems. Srikanth and Rao 41,42 provided product market are volatile, which hinders investment
a comparative overview of SWM practices across in recycling capacity.
various Indian municipalities. The analysis indicated By implementing a flexible waste management
that while larger metropolitan areas have adopted semi- program that permits the use of landfills when recycling
mechanized systems and public–private partnerships, is not practical, this study aims to reduce uncertainty
smaller towns still rely heavily on manual collection over the advantages of recycling. If recycling proves
and open dumping. The study emphasized the need for too costly, landfill strategies, which are typically
uniform policy enforcement, capacity-building at the less expensive than recycling, can serve as a buffer.
local level, and integration of informal waste workers However, the municipal corporation may have to incur
into the formal system to ensure effective waste higher capital expenses to maintain a more sophisticated
management. waste management program that can restore landfills as
needed.
1.3. Rationale for the study The waste management strategies employed by
One of the fundamental functions of municipal selected municipal corporations in the districts of
corporations is the management and disposal of human Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam are

Volume 22 Issue 3 (2025) 65 doi: 10.36922/ajwep.8593