Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries

Instructor: Dr. Christian Zurbrügg

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100,302 already enrolled

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,501 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,501 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

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.

The course begins with an overview of the current waste management situation and the the physical components of municipal solid waste management. We will also introduce the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management framework that will guide you through this course. Connect with your peers and check out the bonus modules at the end of the week.

What's included

11 videos5 readings1 assignment

11 videos Total 114 minutes

1.1 Overview of the course 7 minutes
1.2 Why is this course important? 7 minutes
1.3 Municipal waste generation and characterization 14 minutes
1.4 Waste collection & transport 11 minutes
1.5 Improving efficiency of waste collection and transport 13 minutes
1.6 Recycling municipal waste 16 minutes
1.7 Waste disposal / Landfills - part 1 8 minutes
1.8 Waste disposal / Landfills - part 2 11 minutes
1.9 Upgrade your disposal site 9 minutes
1.10a BONUS: Planning a Waste Generation and Characterization Study 7 minutes
1.10b BONUS: Conducting a Waste Generation and Characterization Study 11 minutes

5 readings Total 46 minutes

Important information to succeed in this course 10 minutes
Connect with your peers and enrich your learning 15 minutes
Landfill mining and perspectives for low- and middle-income countries 10 minutes
Key Takeaways - Week 1 10 minutes
What is a bonus video? 1 minute

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Week 1 Quiz 30 minutes

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.

What's included

12 videos1 reading1 assignment

12 videos Total 121 minutes

2.1 Policies and legislation 12 minutes
2.2 The role of the public sector 11 minutes
2.3 The role of the private sector 12 minutes
2.4 Integrating the informal sector 13 minutes
2.5 The Role of Community Members 13 minutes
2.6 Gender and waste management 6 minutes
2.7 Public Awareness Campaigns - Case study India 11 minutes
2.8 Financing Mechanisms - part 1 9 minutes
2.9 Financing mechanisms - part 2 10 minutes
2.10 BONUS: Triggering Community Participation with the RANAS approach 10 minutes
2.11 BONUS: Assessing costs of Solid Waste Management 7 minutes
2.12 BONUS: Waste Reduction and Avoidance (AI Avatars) 7 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Key Takeaways - Week 2 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Week 2 - Quiz 30 minutes

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.

What's included

18 videos6 readings1 assignment

18 videos Total 157 minutes

3.1 Overview of Biowaste Treatment Technologies 4 minutes
3.2 Science of composting 7 minutes
3.3 Composting technologies 7 minutes
3.4 Operating the Composting Process 11 minutes
3.5 Case Study Composting - Dhaka, Bangladesh 13 minutes
3.6 Case Study Composting - Temesi, Bali, Indonesia 10 minutes
3.7 The Basics of Anaerobic Digestion of Biowaste 11 minutes
3.8 Anaerobic Digestion Technologies and Operation 10 minutes
3.9 Using the Products of Anaerobic Digestion 9 minutes
3.10 Vermicomposting of Biowaste 11 minutes
3.11a Biowaste Processing with Black Soldier Fly Larvae 11 minutes
3.11b Spotlight Video - Black Soldier Fly Biowaste Processing 2 minutes
3.12 Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass 13 minutes
3.13 BONUS: Determining moisture content of biowaste mixtures 9 minutes
3.14 BONUS: Determining C:N ratio of biowaste mixtures 5 minutes
3.15 BONUS: Calculating the size of an anaerobic reactor 8 minutes
3.16 BONUS: Constructing an Anaerobic Fixed Dome Digester 11 minutes
3.17 BONUS: Operating a Black Soldier Fly waste treatment facility 6 minutes

6 readings Total 70 minutes

Troubleshooting composting 10 minutes
Hands-on challenge - Start your own compost 10 minutes
An Introduction to Black Soldier Fly Larvae in Waste Management 10 minutes
Key Takeaways - Week 3 10 minutes
Task - Tarea - Tâche 10 minutes
Explication - Explicación - Explanation 20 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Your solution! 30 minutes

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.

What's included

9 videos2 readings1 assignment

9 videos Total 80 minutes

4.1 Overview of special waste fractions 1 minute
4.2 Mixed waste treatment 9 minutes
4.3 Hazardous Waste Management 10 minutes
4.4 Health Care Waste Management 11 minutes
4.5 E-waste 13 minutes
4.6a Plastic Waste Management - Theory 8 minutes
4.6b Plastic Waste Management - Examples 7 minutes
4.7 Construction and Demolition Waste 9 minutes
4.8 BONUS: Rapid assessment of waste-to-energy projects 11 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Additional resources on marine plastic waste 10 minutes
Key Takeaways Week 4 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Week 4 - English 30 minutes

During this last week, the modules will focus more on strategic and planning aspects of MSWM. Learn more about waste and climate change, plastic leakage andhow to plan and improve the solid waste management system in your community or city. Discover practical tools and the relevance of solid waste management for humanitarian contexts.

What's included

8 videos7 readings1 assignment

8 videos Total 62 minutes

5.1 Strategic Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan 10 minutes
5.2 Integrating biowaste management through strategic planning 11 minutes
5.3 Solid Waste Management tools (AI Avatar) 5 minutes
5.4 Solid waste management in humanitarian contexts 9 minutes
5.5 Solid Waste & Sustainable Development Goals 6 minutes
5.6 Waste and climate 7 minutes
5.7 Circular economy and solid waste management 9 minutes
5.8 With more knowledge - What next? (AI Avatar) 4 minutes

7 readings Total 70 minutes

Selecting an Organic Waste Treatment Technology 10 minutes
Solid Waste Management Tools 10 minutes
Waste Flow Diagram 10 minutes
Solid waste management in humanitarian contexts 10 minutes
Waste and climate change 10 minutes
The role of schools - Zero waste at schools 10 minutes
Key Takeaways Week 5 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 60 minutes

Final exam 60 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(821 ratings)

Dr. Christian Zurbrügg

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

1 Course 100,302 learners

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École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

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Reviewed on May 11, 2020

This course is very well designed and easy to understand because of dedicated and experience personnel who are delivering the content. Use of case study is well planned at various sections in course.

Reviewed on Jun 7, 2016

Tres bon MOOC sur un sujet neglige, mais tellement important. Ce MOOC reussit a montrer que les dechets ont une valeur et que leur transformation est faisable, pour le benefice de tous.

Reviewed on Feb 25, 2026

This course is too wonderful to solid waste managers and its assistants, because it is explored real on hand experience, and even the instructors are easily understood to their students.

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