Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries

Instructor: Dr. Christian Zurbrügg

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,528 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.

3,528 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 videosTotal 114 minutes

1.1 Overview of the course7 minutes
1.2 Why is this course important?7 minutes
1.3 Municipal waste generation and characterization14 minutes
1.4 Waste collection & transport11 minutes
1.5 Improving efficiency of waste collection and transport13 minutes
1.6 Recycling municipal waste16 minutes
1.7 Waste disposal / Landfills - part 18 minutes
1.8 Waste disposal / Landfills - part 211 minutes
1.9 Upgrade your disposal site9 minutes
1.10a BONUS: Planning a Waste Generation and Characterization Study7 minutes
1.10b BONUS: Conducting a Waste Generation and Characterization Study 11 minutes

5 readingsTotal 46 minutes

Important information to succeed in this course10 minutes
Connect with your peers and enrich your learning 15 minutes
Landfill mining and perspectives for low- and middle-income countries10 minutes
Key Takeaways - Week 1 10 minutes
What is a bonus video?1 minute

1 assignmentTotal 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 videosTotal 121 minutes

2.1 Policies and legislation12 minutes
2.2 The role of the public sector11 minutes
2.3 The role of the private sector12 minutes
2.4 Integrating the informal sector13 minutes
2.5 The Role of Community Members13 minutes
2.6 Gender and waste management6 minutes
2.7 Public Awareness Campaigns - Case study India11 minutes
2.8 Financing Mechanisms - part 19 minutes
2.9 Financing mechanisms - part 210 minutes
2.10 BONUS: Triggering Community Participation with the RANAS approach10 minutes
2.11 BONUS: Assessing costs of Solid Waste Management7 minutes
2.12 BONUS: Waste Reduction and Avoidance (AI Avatars)7 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Key Takeaways - Week 210 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 2 - Quiz30 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 videosTotal 157 minutes

3.1 Overview of Biowaste Treatment Technologies4 minutes
3.2 Science of composting7 minutes
3.3 Composting technologies7 minutes
3.4 Operating the Composting Process11 minutes
3.5 Case Study Composting - Dhaka, Bangladesh13 minutes
3.6 Case Study Composting - Temesi, Bali, Indonesia10 minutes
3.7 The Basics of Anaerobic Digestion of Biowaste11 minutes
3.8 Anaerobic Digestion Technologies and Operation10 minutes
3.9 Using the Products of Anaerobic Digestion9 minutes
3.10 Vermicomposting of Biowaste11 minutes
3.11a Biowaste Processing with Black Soldier Fly Larvae11 minutes
3.11b Spotlight Video - Black Soldier Fly Biowaste Processing2 minutes
3.12 Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass13 minutes
3.13 BONUS: Determining moisture content of biowaste mixtures9 minutes
3.14 BONUS: Determining C:N ratio of biowaste mixtures5 minutes
3.15 BONUS: Calculating the size of an anaerobic reactor8 minutes
3.16 BONUS: Constructing an Anaerobic Fixed Dome Digester11 minutes
3.17 BONUS: Operating a Black Soldier Fly waste treatment facility6 minutes

6 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Troubleshooting composting10 minutes
Hands-on challenge - Start your own compost10 minutes
An Introduction to Black Soldier Fly Larvae in Waste Management 10 minutes
Key Takeaways - Week 310 minutes
Task - Tarea - Tâche10 minutes
Explication - Explicación - Explanation20 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 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 videosTotal 80 minutes

4.1 Overview of special waste fractions1 minute
4.2 Mixed waste treatment9 minutes
4.3 Hazardous Waste Management10 minutes
4.4 Health Care Waste Management11 minutes
4.5 E-waste13 minutes
4.6a Plastic Waste Management - Theory8 minutes
4.6b Plastic Waste Management - Examples7 minutes
4.7 Construction and Demolition Waste9 minutes
4.8 BONUS: Rapid assessment of waste-to-energy projects11 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Additional resources on marine plastic waste10 minutes
Key Takeaways Week 4 10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 4 - English30 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 videosTotal 62 minutes

5.1 Strategic Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan10 minutes
5.2 Integrating biowaste management through strategic planning11 minutes
5.3 Solid Waste Management tools (AI Avatar)5 minutes
5.4 Solid waste management in humanitarian contexts9 minutes
5.5 Solid Waste & Sustainable Development Goals6 minutes
5.6 Waste and climate 7 minutes
5.7 Circular economy and solid waste management9 minutes
5.8 With more knowledge - What next? (AI Avatar)4 minutes

7 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Selecting an Organic Waste Treatment Technology10 minutes
Solid Waste Management Tools 10 minutes
Waste Flow Diagram10 minutes
Solid waste management in humanitarian contexts10 minutes
Waste and climate change 10 minutes
The role of schools - Zero waste at schools10 minutes
Key Takeaways Week 510 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 60 minutes

Final exam 60 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(841 ratings)

Dr. Christian Zurbrügg

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

1 Course101,102 learners

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École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

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Reviewed on Aug 16, 2020

Overall a good and interesting course, though some material (referenced) are getting a little dated and needs to be updated. Would like to see more on institutional challenges and financing of MSWM.

Reviewed on Apr 11, 2020

This has provided technical knowledge on waste management for developing countries. It would be great for this to broaden discussion on plastic waste management as this is a growing topic. Thank you!

Reviewed on Feb 26, 2017

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.

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