The Impact of Timely Garbage Collection on Air Quality and Healthcare Burden

Abstract

This research investigates the complex relationship between waste management efficiency, air quality, and public health burdens in Mumbai, Lagos, and Singapore using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analysis links garbage collection delays to increased PM2.5 levels and respiratory hospital admissions. Each day of delay elevates PM2.5 by 12.3 µg/m³, exacerbating respiratory illnesses. Qualitative data reveals systemic barriers like funding gaps and weak enforcement hindering efficient waste management. The study highlights income disparities in healthcare access, masking the full impact of pollution on low income communities. Findings underscore the urgent need for targeted policies, including optimized collection systems, pollution-linked health alerts, and community engagement, to mitigate the waste-air-health nexus, especially in LMICs.