Status of municipal solid waste management policy implementation in developing countries: Insights from Botswana

Since independence, Botswana has promulgated environmental policies and legislation to protect the environment and reduce public health impacts. While the Botswana Waste Management Strategy and Waste Management Act were introduced in 1998, municipal solid waste management (MSWM) still remains a major challenge in Botswana. Thus, to understand the status of implementation of municipal solid waste management policy, the study employed a qualitative approach for data collection using a narrative review of literature, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The study aimed at highlighting the policy gaps with respect to municipal solid waste management, point out the challenges and provide alternative solutions. The results suggest numerous inadequacies in the implementation of policy related to municipal solid waste management including lack of approaches to policy support, weak institutional influences and lack financial support. The application of a sustainable and integrated waste management system is also limited. This study offers important information that could be helpful to decision-makers and policymakers in the sector to improve the efficiency of the municipal solid waste management system. © 2021 Widener University School of Civil Engineering. All rights reserved.