A Case Study on Household Waste Management in an Urban Commune

This case study assessed household waste generation and management practices in the Urban Commune of Faranah, Guinea, with the aim of proposing measures to improve the current system. Data were collected between 15 January and 25 February 2020 through a literature review, socio-economic surveys (85 household and authority questionnaires), and field investigations in two neighbourhoods, Abattoir II and Faranah-Koura. In each neighbourhood, waste generated by three household-size categories (1–5, 6–10 and more than 10 members) was weighed and characterised (biodegradable and non-biodegradable fractions) daily over one week. Waste originated mainly from families (45%), runoff water (25%), the wind (15%), workshops (10%) and passers-by (5%). Nearly half of respondents (46.25%) admitted to dumping waste directly in the environment, 35% relied on open burning, and only 18.75% used waste bins. Waste production increased significantly with household size (P < 0.05) in both neighbourhoods, reaching a city-wide average of 0.284 kg per person per day, equivalent to an estimated 22.18 tonnes of household waste generated daily across the commune's 78,108 inhabitants. Six characterised dumping sites were located close to residential areas (0.3–1.5 km) and were mostly managed by open burning, raising concerns over air quality and vector-borne disease. These findings point to weak institutional engagement, limited equipment, and low public awareness as the main drivers of poor waste management in Faranah. Strengthening public dumping infrastructure, promoting composting and recycling, and involving local authorities and NGOs are recommended as priority actions.