Sustainable Waste Management : Identifying and Analysing the Present and Future Waste Situation in Linga Linga

Abstract: Inadequate waste management has become a global concern during the last decades due to an increasing population and economic growth. When a larger amount of people get access to new types of waste the potentially harmful waste streams are increasing in both cities and rural communities. The setting of this study has been a rural community called Linga Linga in southern Mozambique and has been conducted through a literature study, questionnaires, and interviews. Linga Linga is a village that has poor infrastructure, a lack of financial resources, and an overall low education level. The presence of the government is scarce, but the organization Project Vita has its base in the community and has started a few development projects in the village. The waste management in Linga Linga today is non-existent and the most common methods for waste disposal are burning or burying in the natural environment. In this study, the most important factors today and in the future waste management development of Linga Linga has been identified and analyzed. This has been done by using another village as a potential future situation and with the help of previous studies done in similar rural villages. To improve the situation and prevent future problems regarding waste it will be important for Linga Linga to focus on education, institutional change, and implementation of a waste system that meets local needs.