Planning Municipal Solid Waste Management in Africa: Case Study of Matadi - The DRC

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present the key elements for best performance and profitability of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management in Matadi, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The research provides an overview of methods and models for integrated planning of a two-phase program: MSW collection and transportation and MSW treatment. Matadi has a very poor infrastructure and very low level of the MSW management. We present a comparison table of MSW quantity and composition in Matadi and other African cities. We develop a model for collection and transportation of MSW in Matadi. The greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) as a result of open burning of MSW are predicted using the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) guidelines and formulas. CDM methodology and decay model are used to predict the GHG emissions in disposal site and calculate carbon grants. The Anaerobic Digestion technology is selected as the most appropriate for MSW treatment plant in case of Matadi. The key factors that ensure profitability of MSW treatment plant are as follows: tipping fee from the municipality (19% of total revenue), amount of carbon credits which can sum up to 14% of the total revenue, expansion of waste collection range from 25 to 50 km, local abilities like labor costs and municipality budget support. The methodology of our study can promote other low-income African cities in the solution of waste problem, particularly when starting from a very low level of MSW management.

Keywords: waste collection, GHG emissions, MSW treatment, low-income cities