Integrated Waste Management Strategies for Sustainability in Liberia: Harnessing Energy From Various Waste Streams

Abstract

Waste management, especially the management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), is one of the significant challenges impeding sustainable development in the city of Monrovia, which has resulted in serious threats to public health, safety, and the environment. This research focuses on the Integrated Waste Management strategies for sustainability in Liberia with a focus on harnessing solid waste for energy generation toward the implementation of sustainable waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions in Central Monrovia, Liberia. In response to these waste management challenges, this research investigated the energy potential of solid waste, an underutilized and largely untapped resource for energy production. This paper also identified and analyzed the major socio-economic factors either hampering or facilitating the conversion of solid waste into potential waste-to-energy (WtE) initiatives among small enterprises using food waste as a primary focus. This research utilizes a mixed-method approach of, including surveys, interviewsand data analysis in order to explore the current prospects, as well as the challenges for improving sustainable waste management and renewable energy production systems within Central Monrovia. The results showed that the options for waste-to-energy (WtE) would be beneficial in reducing waste management issues. However, some barriers include a lack of adequate funds and technical capacity, limited public knowledge of waste management, as well as policy and regulatory frameworks that needs to be taken into serious consideration. This study also analyzed the potential for waste-to-energy (WtE) initiatives as viable pathways for achieving sustainable waste management and energy production in Monrovia, despite these challenges.