The role of innovations in municipal solid waste management to attaining sustainable cities : case of City of Johannesburg

Abstract: Globalisation, industrialisation and urbanisation processes have given rise to improved standards of living in most cities of the World. In turn, this has resulted in high volumes of municipal solid waste being generated in the ever-growing urban centres, thus creating new pressures in the form of waste management. In response, municipalities have developed innovative ways of managing municipal solid waste and among them is the capturing, flaring and conversion of landfill gas to electricity. In order to further knowledge on the role of landfill gas capturing and flaring technologies in creating cleaner urban environments, this paper investigated the operations within the Johannesburg city regions, focusing on Marie Louis and Robinson Deep landfill sites. In particular, the paper aims to highlight the impact of the innovations not only in managing municipal solid waste in cities but also in achieving sustainable urban centres. A case study research design and a qualitative research approach were adopted to gather data from key informants through the application of interviews and observations and photographic surveys of landfill sites and solid waste management approaches within the City of Johannesburg. The study revealed that there have been reasonable innovations in the collection, transportation, disposal and treatment of municipal solid waste at the landfill sites, thus improving the sustainability status of the city. Although the innovations still face some challenges, if concerted efforts are exerted in adopting and applying the novel ways of managing municipal solid waste, cities will be safer and sustainable in the near future