Abstract

Solid waste management represents a window of opportunity and a critical challenge for sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa’s national, provincial and local spheres govern the management of solid waste and The National Department of Environmental Affairs is the custodian for the environmental legislative framework. Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Madagascar have similarities and  differ in their level of progress and strategic priorities. This study investigates these dynamics through a systematic literature review of solid waste management (SWM) laws and policies over the past decade (2014–2024), to understand the enforcement, compliance,  alignment with national laws and policies and international standards,

The review is grounded in international agreements and frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes, all of which have significantly influenced SWM practices globally. By applying the SPAR-4-SLR framework (Paul J., 2021), the study aims to systematically analyze peer-reviewed articles and policy documents on the presented countries to identify the gaps, challenges, and opportunities in the  countries SWM legislation.

From this starting point our work aim is to underline key insights from South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. ACCP’s 2019 Data book shows a snapshot of their stance. As an example, Nigeria, while making progress in establishing SWM laws, suffers from weak implementation and limited stakeholder coordination. Ethiopia is reported to have basic legislative frameworks, while Madagascar struggles with ambiguous ministerial roles and underdeveloped sectoral strategies . In South Africa, enforcement mechanisms remain a critical weak point despite a well-established legal framework, underscoring the need for strengthened compliance and accountability measures. And South Africa needs to have better enforcement and compliance of the  laws and regulations. (African Clean Cities Platform Secretariat, 2019).

This study aims to contribute to academic discourse and policymaking by offering a comprehensive review of SWM laws in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa countries, while also proposing practical solutions to enhance legislative and operational efficiency in addressing the waste crisis. The study sets a foundation for future research and policy interventions to advance sustainable development through circular economy in the region.

Biography:

Paolo Sospiro held his PhD in Development Economics from University of Florence.
He is Assistant Professor of Management Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of University Ecampus.He is Associate Researcher of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the Faculty of Engineering of Polytechnic University of Marche where as well as is adjunct Professor of Economics and Management Engineering.Finally, he is director of the Brussels based Think Tank EUAbout and he is CEO of the Brussels based consulting company EUInnova.He is specialized on European Affairs, services of general interest (energy, transportation, waste management, water supply and education), circular economy and twin transition.

Dr. Eng. Salah Jellali currently holds the position of senior researcher in Water & Environmental Engineering at the Centre for Environmental Studies and Research (CESAR) of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). His primary research focus revolves around local management and governance of solid and liquid wastes within the framework of circular economy and sustainability. A key area of his expertise involves the conversion of organic biomasses into high-value products such as biochars through pyrolysis process. Dr. Jellali has coordinated and participated in various national and international projects centered on the reuse of biochars as efficient adsorbents for wastewater treatment and/or as biofertilizers in agriculture. Additionally, he has actively contributed as a member of organizing and scientific committees for numerous international conferences on water and environment sustainable management. Dr. Jellali has supervised several PhD theses and Master students. Dr. Jellali has authored over 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters and received the of best researcher award of SQU for the period 2020-2022.

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