Characterization of Household Wastes in D.R. Congo, a Case Study of Lubumbashi

Abstract

The insufficient supervision of household solid waste is a notorious problem in DR. Congo cities. Besides, solid waste management in Lubumbashi has been very rudimentary and unsystematic. This study aims to quantify and characterize the household solid waste in two Lubumbashi municipalities. For more than 50 years after independence from colonialism, the city trailed direct discharge of waste on exposed site and waterside and sometimes in watercourse with no soil cover or leachate treatment in place. Almost sixty households from two Lubumbashi city municipalities were investigated by means of group sampling techniques and the obtained data was used to quantify and characterize the municipalities' household solid waste. The composition of the household waste revealed that 30% of the wastes were recovered by Lubumbashi's state administration and 70% by local residential services termed individuals. However, in Kamalondo municipality, the household waste recovered by the state, individuals and private sectors were 25.9%, 67.5 and 6.7%, respectively. About 90% of the residence did not subscribe for the household system of collection. While each household generated varying amount and type of wastes, the average value of biodegradable waste produced in Kamalondo (1.79 kg) was three times higher than that in Lubumbashi (0.65 kg). Finally, this study highlighted that about USD 2.00 per household was enough to improve the household waste collection system of 2,000,000 residents in seven municipalities.