Identifying the Leverage Points in the Household Solid Waste Management System for Harare, Zimbabwe, Using Network Analysis Techniques

Managing household solid waste (HSW) has gone beyond what the Harare local government can handle. Inadequate knowledge of interactions existing between issues that affect efficient running management systems is one major hindrances in planning developing countries like Zimbabwe. The complexity system for a given municipal area needs to be identified and understood generate appropriate strategies. Network analysis (NA) methodology extensively used research help reveal comprehensive picture relationships factors related particular phenomenon. reduces intricacy large such as smaller more understandable structures. In this study, NA, which was done mainly using R software environment, showed result 1.5% network density, thus signifying Harare, strategies need ‘seeded’ various parts system. Pareto principle 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) concept were applied suggest prioritize could potentially significant change city’s key identified, their order importance, are an increase uncollected waste, low collection efficiency, illegal dumping, deteriorating country’s economy, reduced financial capacity, workforce inadequate or unreliable data, volume, number street vendors, no monitoring unit, engineered landfills city, pressure, frequency, unemployment rate, technical few vehicles, limited vehicles maintenance, distinct socio-economic classes, high breakdown, population.