Solid Waste Management Guide for Developing Countries

On this page:

• ​​​​​​About the guide
• Download the guide 
• Browse the online trainings (no download required)
• Access webinar and outreach materials

About the guide

The Best Practices for Solid Waste Management: A Guide for Decision-Makers in Developing Countries (guide) is focused on best practices for solid waste management in medium and large urban centers in developing countries because they face the most substantial solid waste management challenges.

Portions of the guide might also be applicable to rural towns, villages, or other small jurisdictions.

The guide's primary audience is state and local government authorities in cities including decision-makers, policymakers, and agency staff involved in solid waste management. Aspects of the Guide might be applicable to other stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations, private sector actors, or residents.

The guide is not intended to be a step-by-step implementation manual, but it does highlight many such manuals and other resources that local authorities and decision-makers can refer to for more detailed technical guidance.

The guide presents decision-makers with the information and resources to improve solid waste management within the context of their given situation.

View and download the PDF guide

• Solid Waste Management Guide for Developing Countries (PDF) (166 pp, 21 MB, October 20, 2020, EPA 530-R-20-002)
• Español: Mejores prácticas para la gestión de residuos sólidos: Una Guía para los responsables de la toma de decisiones en los países en vías de desarrollo (PDF) (160 pp, 25 MB)
• Français: Meilleures pratiques de gestion des déchets solides: Guide destiné aux décideurs dans les pays en voie de développement (PDF) (160 pp, 25 MB)
• Bahasa Indonesia: Praktik Terbaik untuk Pengelolaan Sampah Padat: Panduan untuk Pengambil Keputusan di Negara Berkembang (PDF) (166 pp, 113 MB)
• Vietnamese: Quy trình quản lý chất thải rắn kiểu mẫu: Hướng dẫn dành cho người ra quyết định ở các nước đang phát triển (PDF) (166 pp, 135 MB)
• Thai: Best Practices for Solid Waste Management: A Guide for Decision-Makers in Developing Countries (PDF) (166 pp, 121 MB)

About the online learning modules

EPA developed a series of online interactive learning modules to complement the guide. The modules allow users to explore specific topics related to waste management in a user-friendly platform.

Key features:

• Designed to be mobile-friendly and usable with lower bandwidth
• Includes links to case studies and specific chapters within the PDF guide
• Intended to support learning at your own pace

Access the online modules

Select and launch a module from the list below:

Module 1: Solid Waste Management Governance

• This module introduces users to key concepts related to solid waste management. These concepts are relevant to each of the topic-specific modules in this series.

Module 2: Stakeholder Engagement

• This module introduces users to the topic of stakeholder engagement, the process of building relationships with residents, interest groups, and other impacted entities.

Module 3: Waste Characterization

• This module introduces users to the topic of waste characterization. Understanding the waste stream helps with prevention, collection, recycling, and disposal.

Module 4: Prevention and Minimization

• This module introduces users to the topic of waste prevention and minimization. Reducing and reusing waste has environmental, public health, and economic benefits.

Module 5: Separation, Collection, and Transportation

• This module introduces users to the best practices associated with effective separation, collection, and transportation of waste, critical components of an integrated solid waste management system.

Module 6: Organic Waste Management

• This module introduces users to the benefits of diverting organic waste from disposal sites, potential treatment options, and best practices associated with managing it.

Module 7: Recycling

• This module introduces users to the benefits of recycling and best practices associated with successful recycling programs.

Module 8: Disposal

• This module introduces users to the topic of managing solid waste disposal sites, including open dumpsites and sanitary landfills.

Module 9: Energy Recovery

• This module introduces users to the topic of energy recovery, or waste to energy, as a solid waste management strategy, and factors to consider before implementation.

Access additional resources

EPA hosted a webinar that highlighted best practices from the guide and real-world examples from stakeholders across the globe. Stakeholders can use EPA’s suite of outreach materials to promote the guide and solid waste management best practices. The materials are available in English, Spanish, and French.

Access the Webinar Content

Watch the webinar recording

Watch the webinar recording

Download outreach materials

English

• General Flyer (pdf) (22.07 MB)
• Marine Litter Flyer (pdf) (1.34 MB)
• Informal Sector Flyer (pdf) (1.21 MB)

Español

• Folleto de información general (pdf) (3.15 MB)
• Folleto sobre basura marina (pdf) (1.34 MB)
• Folleto sobre el sector informal (pdf) (1.22 MB)

Français

• Dépliant d'informations générales (pdf) (2.7 MB)
• Dépliant sur les déchets marins (pdf) (1.96 MB)
• Dépliant sur le secteur informel (pdf) (1.19 MB)

العربية

• نشرة عامة (pdf) (24.09 MB)
• نشرة النفايات البحرية (pdf) (5.44 MB)
• نشرة القطاع غير الرسمي (pdf) (12.81 MB)