Pleuntje Jellema, Bob Njoroge Muhia, and Margaret Macharia Kedogo
Waste (mis)management poses a growing threat to public health and the environment in Sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 85% of municipal solid waste is informally handled. Open dumpsites located near residential areas emit harmful pollutants, contributing to poor air quality and with adverse effects on (respiratory) health, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, elderly people, those with pre-existing health conditions and communities living and working on or adjacent to such sites. Despite increasing awareness of the dangers associated with waste-burning, existing interventions remain fragmented and rarely account for the role of the built environment. This paper explores how urban planning, building design, and (waste-related) infrastructure influence the dynamics of waste mismanagement and air pollution, with the overarching objective to identify systemic leverage points that support health and sustainability goals. The aim is threefold: First, to scope the existing literature, mapping relationships between waste mismanagement, air pollution, and (respiratory) health in relevant studies done on this topic in Africa, and exploring how the built environment contributes to or mitigates these issues. Second, we draw empirical insights from a year-long interdisciplinary project in Kenya, involving field visits to the Dandora and Gioto dumpsites and engagement with local stakeholders. Third, we think through this topic by reflecting on recent work on systemic change in our search for leverage (Murphy, 2022; Murphy & Jones, 2020) and in pursuit of changemaking. Our findings point towards the importance of intentionally integrating waste management into urban planning and building design to enhance sustainability synergies and mitigate adverse health effects. Key conclusions include the need to intentionally ‘make space’ for waste sorting, in addition to the role of urban greenery in reducing air pollution, and the importance of community engagement in promoting behavioural change. Effective policies and infrastructure are crucial for supporting these initiatives. Future (design) research should adopt a more-than-human ‘one health’ to guide further investigations on the built environment’s role in enhancing waste management; investigate waste management-related opportunities within the building sector; and explore how the notion of ‘making space’ for waste management at various scales can raise awareness in building design and renovation projects.
Keywords: waste management, air pollution, health, built environment, changemaking, Kenya