Abstract

Waste management in Liberia faces significant challenges, particularly in urban areas, due to 
inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and low public awareness, leading to environmental 
degradation and public health risks. The present review aims to assess Liberia’s current waste 
management system, identify key challenges in infrastructure and public participation, and 
propose sustainable strategies for improvement. The analysis employs a comprehensive meth
odology that combines report evaluation, stakeholder surveys, and community input. It examines 
successful international case studies to identify best practices for Liberia, incorporating findings 
from public and private sector reports to propose targeted improvements for waste management 
practices in Greater Monrovia. The findings reveal inefficiencies in the current system, with only 
40 % of urban waste collected regularly, contributing to a 25 % increase in illegal dumping over 
the past five years. The Whein Town landfill, which receives over 582 tons of waste daily, 
operates near capacity without proper leachate and gas management, causing environmental 
contamination. Infectious waste generation across 15 healthcare facilities averaged 0.137 kg/ 
bed/day, with a projected 15 % annual increase. Furthermore, the absence of specific waste 
management laws, inadequate funding, and weak enforcement exacerbate these challenges at the 
Whein Town landfill and other areas in Greater Monrovia. The proposed waste management 
system includes centralized transfer stations, improved waste tracking, and expanded recycling 
and composting efforts. Whereas, expected outcomes are a 30 % increase in waste collection 
coverage and a 20 % reduction in landfill waste within three years. International donors and