An assessment of municipal solid waste management practices and challenges in Mogadishu, Somalia

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess municipal solid waste management practices and challenges in Mogadishu, Somalia. The specific research objectives were to examine the state of municipal solid waste management practices, challenges, and strategies for improving practices and promoting best practices. Data were collected using a mixed-methods cross-sectional design from 273 respondents including waste management workers and residents. The findings reveal that current practices are largely ineffective, with 49.1% of respondents rating services as “poor”; 46.2% of households currently resort to roadside dumping due to a lack of formal infrastructure. Significant barriers include inadequate financial resources, insufficient institutional capacity, technological deficiencies, and a lack of skilled personnel (58.3%). Practical recommendations include the implementation of “pay-as-you-throw” policies to ensure financial sustainability, the establishment of small-scale community recycling hubs to reduce landfill pressure, and the formalization of private-sector partnerships through rigorous legislative oversight and standardized disposal sites.