Kitwe Urban Development Forum: Waste Management in Informal Settlements in Kitwe

Effective Waste Management in Kitwe’s Informal Settlements Requires a Multi-Stakeholder Approach

Informal settlements in Kitwe, face significant challenges in waste management due to rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, limited municipal services, and poor community awareness. These areas, often characterized by high population densities and unplanned urban development, lack access to formal waste collection and disposal systems, leading to environmental degradation and public health risks. Despite the presence of municipal waste management services in Kitwe, informal settlements remain underserved. Waste is often dumped in open spaces, drains, or burned, contributing to pollution, disease outbreaks, and flooding. The lack of a coordinated approach to waste management in these settlements presents a growing public health and environmental concern.

Effective waste management in Kitwe’s informal settlements requires a multi-stakeholder approach that combines community engagement, and affordable infrastructure and solutions. Addressing these challenges can improve public health, environmental quality, and urban resilience in Kitwe. This was the discussion at the August 2025 Kitwe Urban Development forum, organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung  Zambia Office and its partners which include; Civic Forum on Housing and Habitat Zambia(CFHH),  Mineworkers UNION of Zambia , The Copperbelt University, department of Urban and Regional Planning, the Alliance of Zambian Informal Economy Association (AZIEA) and the Kitwe City Council (KCC).