Living near landfill sites increases health risks
There has been considerable public attention in recent years on the role of waste in developing countries, in particular because they are often recipients of waste that originates in developed countries.
Certain types of waste, such as scrap metal, are sources of inexpensive raw materials for manufacturing purposes.
The recycling of waste to recover and then reprocess materials into new products, when this doesn’t hurt the environment, can provide economic benefit.
The type of economic system that aims to eliminate waste and the continual use of resources, known as a circular economy, can help to reduce the amount of landfill waste and contribute towards sustainable development.
Our research found that between 2008 and 2015, there was a massive increase in the number of people exposed to waste sites because of a spike in the number of landfill sites. Our findings also identified multiple health risks in living close to waste sites. The study illustrates how poor people are taking on the brunt of the negative effects of waste.
During the period, we observed a substantial increase in the number of waste sites – from 42 in 2008 to 1 086 in 2015. Our calculations show that the distance to the nearest site decreased from 68.3km in 2008 to 8.5km in 2015.
We also found from our analysis that people living within 5km of a waste site were at a higher risk of certain conditions. We calculated that this population had a 41% higher risk of asthma, an 18% higher risk of developing tuberculosis, a 25% higher chance of having diabetes and an 8% greater chance of having depression.
Equally important, we found that tuberculosis, diabetes and depression were significantly higher among individuals from households with lower income.
A number of steps need to be taken to address the issues.
Firstly, it’s necessary to reduce the amount of waste and number of sites through more aggressive recycling. According to a 2018 report by the department of environment, forestry and fisheries, only 10% of waste is recycled. The remaining estimated 98 million tons is deposited into landfill sites each year.
There also needs to be an improvement in waste management.
Although doubtful in practice, we acknowledge the point of view that waste and innovations in waste management sites may be an opportunity for economic activity and counter against climate change if planned and implemented correctly. But do sites have to be close to where people live, especially the marginalised and socioeconomically vulnerable?
As SA advances with its waste management, particularly managing the waste of developed countries, it should ask itself whose interests are being served.
Andrew Tomita is a senior lecturer at School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Rob Slotow is a pro-vice chancellor of African Cities of the Future, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
– The Conversation