234 Waste Management & Research Waste Manage Res 2007: 25: 234–240 Printed in UK – all right reserved

Setting priorities for waste management strategies in developing countries This study aimed to determine whether the waste manage-ment systems, that are presently applied in affluent countries are appropriate solutions for waste management in less devel-oped regions. For this purpose, three cities (Vienna, Damas-cus and Dhaka) which differ greatly in their gross domestic product and waste management were compared. The criteria for evaluation were economic parameters, and indicators as to whether the goals of waste management (protection of human health and the environment, the conservation of resources) were reached. Based on case studies, it was found that for regions spending 1–10 € capita–1 year–1 for waste management, the ‘waste hierarchy ’ of prevention, recycling and disposal is not an appropriate strategy. In such regions, the improvement of disposal systems (complete collection, upgrading to sanitary landfilling) is the most cost-effective method to reach the objectives of solid waste management. Concepts that are widely applied in developed countries such as incineration and mechanical waste treatment are not suit-able methods to reach waste management goals in countries where people cannot spend more than 10 € per person for the collection, treatment and disposal of their waste. It is recom-mended that each region first determines its economic capac-ity for waste management and then designs its waste manage-ment system according to this capacity and the goals of waste management