(Re)planning Urban Solid Waste Management: The role of Local Knowledge

There is ongoing concern among environmental managers, and the public about well being in African cities with regards to planning solid waste management. The concerns are worsened by the fact that: (1.) All attempts at dealing with the present situation of solid waste handling in African cities have either failed or only met with moderate success; (2.) There is significant economic, spiritual, and cultural value placed on the city''s development in Africa, thus, deterioration in its environment spells difficulties for improving conditions of development. To date, very little research has emerged on local knowledge s role in managing urban solid waste in the African context. This book contributes on this topic, using case studies from Accra and Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa where it was found that local knowledge plays a role not only in the day-to-day decision making of those involved, but also in the management of solid waste activities. The work proposes ways that urban solid waste can be (re)planned by introducing local knowledge in formal urban planning approaches used in the African urban context in general, and Accra and Kumasi, Ghana, in particular.