Draft:Urban waste Management and Access to Essential Services in Nouakchott, Mauritania

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Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, faces significant challenges related to waste management and access to essential services like electricity and the internet.[1] As the largest city in Mauritania, with over 1.6 million residents, Nouakchott's rapid population growth has outpaced its infrastructure development, leading to disparities in service provision, particularly for those in low-income and informal areas.[2][3]

Population Growth and Demographic Scenario in Nouakchott City from 1950 to 2030 (Ansade, 2021 & world population review, 2024)

Urbanization and growth

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View of Nouakchott

Originally a small coastal fishing village, Nouakchott has transformed into an urban center, housing around 37% of the country's population.[4] However, the infrastructure required to sustain such rapid growth particularly in waste management, electricity supply, and internet connectivity has lagged behind.[5] This challenge is compounded by the unplanned nature of much of the city’s expansion, a common issue in many fast-growing cities across Africa.[6]

Waste management issues

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Nouakchott’s waste management system has struggled to handle the volume of waste generated by its expanding population.[7] The city faces several critical challenges:

  • Inadequate Infrastructure: Currently, formal waste collection services only cover about 15% of the city’s urban areas (see Figure 2), leaving much of the population without regular waste collection.[8] This has led to widespread illegal dumping and environmental degradation, particularly in underserved neighborhoods.[9]
Waste collection rates in African cities (Kaza et al , 2018)
  • Informal Settlements: The Riyadh municipality, one of Nouakchott’s most impoverished areas, exemplifies the struggles faced by informal settlements.[10] These areas lack basic infrastructure, including waste collection services, forcing residents to dispose of waste in unsanitary and often hazardous ways.[11] This situation not only threatens public health but also contributes to water and soil pollution.[12]
  • Low Recycling Rates: Only about 8% of Nouakchott's waste is recycled, highlighting the absence of robust recycling programs.[13] The city’s reliance on landfill sites, combined with a lack of public awareness about waste separation, exacerbates environmental stress on already overburdened landfills.[14] Global best practices, such as waste-to-energy conversion and community-led recycling initiatives, could be explored to enhance the sustainability of waste management.[15]
  • Socioeconomic Disparities: Access to waste management services in Nouakchott is uneven, with wealthier areas enjoying more reliable collection services, while informal settlements often go without.[16] This disparity reflects broader inequalities in the city’s infrastructure and service delivery systems.[17]

Access to electricity and internet

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The issue of waste management in Nouakchott is closely tied to access to other essential services, particularly electricity and the internet[18]. A 2024 logistic regression analysis identified multiple factors influencing household access to these services.[19]

  • Electricity access: Approximately 16% of households in Mauritania have access to electricity.[20] The absence of reliable electricity affects daily life and limits access to other critical services, including waste management.
  • Impact on waste management: Electricity is essential for the operation of waste collection vehicles and treatment facilities.[21] In areas with unreliable power supply, waste services are often delayed or nonexistent, exacerbating sanitation problems.[22][23]
  • Internet access: Access to the internet is similarly unequal, with wealthier households far more likely to have reliable connectivity.[24] Internet access is becoming increasingly important for education, employment, and accessing public services.[25]
  • Digital disparities: The analysis found that higher levels of education and income are significant predictors of internet access.[26] In Nouakchott, digital access is disproportionately available, with those in more affluent or educated households benefitting from better internet infrastructure. Despite efforts to promote inclusive digital transformation, disparities persist, particularly in poorer neighborhoods where infrastructure is limited. The UNDP aims to address these challenges by accelerating digital access for underserved populations, fostering a more equitable distribution of digital resources across the city and improving opportunities for social and economic inclusion.[27][28]
  • Water infrastructure: Studies about Nouakchott reveal a strong correlation between access to water infrastructure and the effectiveness of waste management services in Nouakchott.[29][30] Areas with more developed water supply systems, such as those benefiting from the Aftout Essahli Drinking Water Supply Project, tend to experience better waste management, highlighting the interdependence of urban services.[31] However, Nouakchott faces ongoing challenges due to aging pipelines, high water losses, and insufficient sanitation infrastructure, which hinder both water distribution and waste disposal efforts.[32] The lack of an integrated sanitation system exacerbates water contamination risks, particularly in low-lying areas prone to flooding caused by leaking pipelines. Strengthening Nouakchott’s water infrastructure is therefore crucial not only for ensuring reliable water access but also for enhancing waste management efficiency and public health.[33]

Key Findings from the Logistic Regression Study

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The 2024 study identified several key factors affecting access to essential services in Nouakchott (Ebnou Abdem SA, et al 2024):

  • Housing type: Residents of permanent, well-constructed homes are more likely to have access to electricity, internet, and waste services, while those living in temporary housing or informal structures face significant challenges.
  • Education and income: Socioeconomic status, including education and income levels, strongly influences access to both electricity and internet services. Higher-income households enjoy more reliable infrastructure, while lower-income residents, particularly in informal areas like Riyadh, are less likely to receive consistent services.
  • Municipal infrastructure: The Riyadh municipality suffers from poor infrastructure and urban planning, with rapid population growth outstripping the available services. The study found that residents in Riyadh are less likely to have access to electricity, internet, or formal waste management services compared to those in more affluent neighborhoods.
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