Have you come across large piles of garbage in neighbourhoods and streets and smelly waste disposal sites polluting the environment of low- and middle-income countries? Do you want to know what kind of sustainable solutions are appropriate to better manage waste and enhance recycling and recovery? If yes, this course is for you!
This course provides you with an overview of the municipal solid waste management situation in low- and middle-income countries. It covers key elements of the waste management system, such as its technical, environmental, social, financial and institutional aspects. Besides understanding the challenges, you will be introduced to appropriate and already applied solutions through selected case studies.
Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries
Offered By
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
46,435 enrolled
About this Course
32,392 recent views
Skills you will gain
EnergyEconomyNatural ResourcesEnvironmental Protection
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
13 hours to complete
Physical Elements of Solid Waste Management
The course begins with an overview of the current waste management situation in developing countries. We will introduce the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management framework that will guide you through this course. The modules of this first week deal with the physical components of municipal solid waste management. Connect with your peers and check out the bonus modules at the end of the week. ******************** SEMANA 1: ELEMENTOS FÍSICOS DE LA GESTIÓN DE LOS RESIDUOS SÓLIDOS: El curso comienza con una visión general de la situación actual de la gestión de los residuos sólidos en los países en vías de desarrollo. Introduciremos el marco de la Gestión Integrada y Sostenible de los Residuos Sólidos que te guiará a través de este curso. Los módulos de esta primera semana tratan de los componentes físicos de la gestión municipal de los residuos sólidos. Conéctate con tus compañeros y revisa los módulos adicionales al final de la semana. ******************** SEMAINE 1: ÉLÉMENTS MATÉRIELS DE LA GESTION DES DÉCHETS SOLIDES: Le cours commence par un aperçu de la situation actuelle de la gestion des déchets dans les pays en développement. Nous vous présenterons le cadre de gestion intégrée et durable des déchets qui vous guidera tout au long de ce cours. Les modules de cette première semaine traitent des composantes physiques de la gestion des déchets municipaux. Connectez-vous avec vos collègues et découvrez les modules bonus à la fin de la semaine.
13 videos (Total 124 min), 7 readings
13 videos
Trailer3m
1.1 Overview of the course7m
1.2 Why is this course important?6m
1.3 Municipal waste generation and characterization13m
1.4 Waste collection & transport10m
1.5 Improving efficiency of waste collection and transport12m
1.6 Recycling municipal waste16m
1.7 Waste disposal / Landfills - part 18m
1.8 Waste disposal / Landfills - part 211m
1.9 Upgrading a Dump Site10m
1.10 Key messages Week 14m
1.11a BONUS: Planning a Waste Generation and Characterization Study - part I7m
1.11b BONUS: Conducting a Waste Generation and Characterization Study - part II10m
7 readings
Important information to succeed in this course10m
Suggested readings10m
Connect with your peers15m
How to give feedback to the course team?1m
Slides - Week 110m
Suggested readings - Week 110m
What is a bonus module?1m
2 hours to complete
Physical Elements of Solid Waste Management : Lesson Choices
Choice 1: We offer this quiz in English, French and Spanish. Please choose your preferred language and complete only one of the three quizzes. | Choice 2: Ofrecemos esta prueba en español, inglés y francés. Por favor, elige tu idioma preferido y completa sólo una de las tres pruebas. | Choice 3: Nous offrons ce quiz en français, anglais et espagnol. Veuillez choisir votre langue préférée et répondre à un seul des trois quiz.
3 quizzes
3 practice exercises
Week 1 - English 30m
Semana 1 - Español 30m
Semaine 1 - Français 30m
Week
22 hours to complete
Governance Aspects of Solid Waste Management
This week focuses on the governance aspects, also called the “soft” aspects of a municipal solid waste management system. We will explain the different stakeholders and their roles and responsibilities as well as legislative issues and financial mechanisms. ******************** SEMANA 2 - ASPECTOS DE LA GOBERNANZA DE LA GESTIÓN DE LOS RESIDUOS SÓLIDOS: Esta semana se centra en los aspectos de la gobernanza, los también llamados aspectos "blandos" de un sistema de gestión municipal de residuos sólidos. Explicaremos cuáles son las diferentes partes interesadas o involucradas, y sus funciones y responsabilidades, así como los asuntos de carácter legislativo y los mecanismos financieros. ******************** SEMAINE 3 - ASPECTS DE GOUVERNANCE DE LA GESTION DES DÉCHETS SOLIDES: Cette semaine met l'accent sur les aspects de gouvernance, aussi appelés les aspects " doux " d'un système de gestion des déchets solides municipaux. Nous expliquerons les différents acteurs et leurs rôles et responsabilités ainsi que les questions législatives et les mécanismes financiers.
11 videos (Total 116 min), 2 readings
11 videos
2.2 The role of the public sector11m
2.3 The role of the private sector11m
2.4 Integrating the informal sector12m
2.5 The Role of Community Members12m
2.6 Public Awareness Campaigns - Case study India10m
2.7 Financing Mechanisms - part 19m
2.8 Financing mechanisms - part 29m
2.9 Key messages Week 23m
2.10 BONUS: Triggering Community Participation with the RANAS approach10m
2.11BONUS: Financial comparison of collection and transport systems12m
2 readings
Slides - Week 210m
Suggested readings - Week 210m
2 hours to complete
Governance Aspects of Solid Waste Management : Lesson Choices
Choice 1: We offer this quiz in English, French and Spanish. Please choose your preferred language and complete only one of the three quizzes. | Choice 2: Ofrecemos esta prueba en español, inglés y francés. Por favor, elige tu idioma preferido y completa sólo una de las tres pruebas. | Choice 3: Nous offrons ce quiz en français, anglais et espagnol. Veuillez choisir votre langue préférée et répondre à un seul des trois quiz.
3 quizzes
3 practice exercises
Week 2 - English30m
Semana 2 - Español30m
Semaine 2 - Français30m
Week
34 hours to complete
Organic waste treatment
This week provides you with an overview on organic waste treatment. We will start with the basics of two very common organic waste treatment technologies: composting and anaerobic digestion. We then continue with technologies that are currently less common in practice: vermicomposting, waste processing using black soldier fly larvae, and thermochemical conversion. ******************** SEMANA 3 - TRATAMIENTO DE LOS RESIDUOS ORGÁNICOS: Esta semana te ofrece una visión general sobre el tratamiento de los residuos orgánicos. Comenzaremos con las nociones básicas de dos tecnologías de tratamiento de residuos orgánicos muy comunes: el compostaje y la digestión anaeróbica. Continuaremos con tecnologías que actualmente son menos comunes en la práctica: el vermicompostaje, el procesamiento de residuos sólidos con las larvas de la mosca soldado negra y la conversión termoquímica. ******************** SEMAINE 3 - TRAITEMENT DES DÉCHETS ORGANIQUES: Cette semaine vous donne un aperçu du traitement des déchets organiques. Nous commencerons par les bases de deux technologies très courantes de traitement des déchets organiques : le compostage et la digestion anaérobie. Ensuite, nous continuerons avec des technologies qui sont actuellement moins courantes dans la pratique : le lombricompostage, le traitement des déchets par larves de mouche soldat noir et la conversion thermochimique.
18 videos (Total 161 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
18 videos
3.2 Science of composting7m
3.3 Composting technologies6m
3.4 Operating the Composting Process10m
3.5 Case Study Composting - Dhaka, Bangladesh13m
3.6 Case Study Composting - Temesi, Bali, Indonesia10m
3.7 The Basics of Anaerobic Digestion of Biowaste11m
3.8 Anaerobic Digestion Technologies and Operation9m
3.9 Using the Products of Anaerobic Digestion8m
3.10 Vermicomposting of Biowaste11m
3.11 Biowaste Processing with Black Soldier Fly Larvae10m
3.12 Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass13m
3.13 Key messages Week 35m
3.14 BONUS: Determining moisture content of biowaste mixtures8m
3.15 BONUS: Determining C:N ratio of biowaste mixtures5m
3.16 BONUS: Calculating the size of an anaerobic reactor8m
3.17 BONUS: Constructing an Anaerobic Fixed Dome Digester11m
3.18 BONUS: Operating a Black Soldier Fly waste treatment facility5m
4 readings
Slides - Week 310m
Suggested readings - Week 310m
Task - Tarea - Tâche10m
Explication - Explicación - Explanation20m
1 practice exercise
Your solution! 30m
2 hours to complete
Organic waste treatment: Lesson Choices
Choice 1: We offer this quiz in English, French and Spanish. Please choose your preferred language and complete only one of the three quizzes. | Choice 2: Ofrecemos esta prueba en español, inglés y francés. Por favor, elige tu idioma preferido y completa sólo una de las tres pruebas. | Choice 3: Nous offrons ce quiz en français, anglais et espagnol. Veuillez choisir votre langue préférée et répondre à un seul des trois quiz.
3 quizzes
3 practice exercises
Week 3 - English 30m
Semana 3 - Español30m
Semaine 3 - Français30m
Week
42 hours to complete
Special waste fractions
The week covers special waste fractions, such as hazardous waste, healthcare waste, e-waste, plastic waste and construction and demolition waste. We will explain the key challenges and opportunities for an improved management in low- and middle-income settings. ******************** SEMANA 4 - FRACCIONES ESPECIALES DE LOS RESIDUOS SÓLIDOS: La semana abarca las fracciones especiales de los residuos sólidos, como los residuos peligrosos, los residuos sanitarios, los residuos electrónicos, los residuos plásticos y los residuos de la construcción y demolición. Explicaremos los principales desafíos y oportunidades de mejoramiento en entornos de medianos y bajos ingresos. ******************** SEMAINE 4 - DÉCHETS SPÉCIAUX: La semaine couvre les déchets spéciaux, tels que les déchets dangereux, les déchets médicaux, les déchets électroniques, les déchets plastiques et les déchets de construction et de démolition. Nous expliquerons les principaux défis et possibilités pour une meilleure gestion dans les contextes de revenus faibles et moyens.
10 videos (Total 84 min), 3 readings
10 videos
4.2 Mixed waste treatment9m
4.3 Hazardous Waste Management10m
4.4 Health Care Waste Management10m
4.5 E-waste13m
4.6a Plastic Waste Management - Theory8m
4.6b Plastic Waste Management - Examples7m
4.7 Construction and Demolition Waste8m
4.8 Key Messages Week 44m
4.9 BONUS: Rapid assessment of waste-to-energy projects11m
3 readings
Additional resources on marine plastic waste10m
Slides - Week 410m
Suggested readings - Week 410m
2 hours to complete
Special waste fractions : Lesson Choices
Choice 1: We offer this quiz in English, French and Spanish. Please choose your preferred language and complete only one of the three quizzes. | Choice 2: Ofrecemos esta prueba en español, inglés y francés. Por favor, elige tu idioma preferido y completa sólo una de las tres pruebas. | Choice 3: Nous offrons ce quiz en français, anglais et espagnol. Veuillez choisir votre langue préférée et répondre à un seul des trois quiz.
3 quizzes
3 practice exercises
Week 4 - English30m
Semana 4 - Español30m
Semaine 4 - Français30m
4.8
512 Reviews33%
started a new career after completing these courses
30%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
11%
got a pay increase or promotion
Top Reviews
Great introduction. It covers a wide range of issues concerning waste management and I thought the material was relevant and reflected my own observations of waste management in developing countries.
great course and content, it gives you a clear view of how waste management is done nowadays in developing countries and prepares you to innovate on the upcoming future of a circular economy
Instructors
Dr. Christian Zurbrügg
Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development / Eawag
Imanol Zabaleta
Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development / Eawag
Félix Schmidt
Sanitary Engineering, Water and Waste Management / EPFL
About École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Frequently Asked Questions
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When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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