Municipal Solid Waste Management in Urban Areas: Challenges and Impact on Public Health

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation has significantly increased as a result of the fast urbanization and population growth in both developed and developing nations, creating serious problems for public health and urban administration. Inadequate infrastructure, a lack of source segregation, a lack of money, lax enforcement of policies, and public disinterest in sustainable waste management are some of the major issues related to municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in metropolitan areas that are examined in this study. Open dumping and burning are examples of improper waste disposal methods that have had detrimental effects on the environment, including soil, water, and air pollution, all of which have an immediate effect on human health.Inadequate waste management techniques in urban environments have been connected to the rise of vector-borne diseases, respiratory ailments, and waterborne infections. The study emphasizes the necessity of sustainable and integrated MSWM solutions that include decentralized waste processing systems, technological innovation, community involvement, and more stringent regulatory frameworks. Cities may lessen the negative environmental consequences of solid waste and drastically lower the hazards to public health posed by improper management of urban garbage by tackling these issues comprehensively.

Keywords: public health, municipal solid waste, urban waste management, waste segregation