Management of household waste in Kinshasa: administrative coordination, political choices, and perception of health and CBRN risks by local stakeholders

Abstract

This study analyzes the administrative coordination mechanisms and political choices structuring household waste management in Kinshasa between 2021 and 2025, as well as the differentiated perceptions of health and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) risks by stakeholders. A mixed-methods approach was used across nine communes: a questionnaire survey of 900 households, semi-structured interviews with 45 administrative officers, 45 informal waste pickers, and 18 non-governmental organizations. Quantitative data were processed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman correlation. Results show that administrative fragmentation remains a major limiting factor, with 71.1% of officers reporting jurisdictional overlaps (χ²(2, N = 45) = 12.18, p = .002). Political choices favor emergency evacuation (66% of budget) over preventive awareness (14%). Perceptions of health and CBRN risks differ significantly among stakeholders (H(3) = 48.92, p < .001), with informal waste pickers reporting the highest scores (M = 4.08) and administrative officers the lowest (M = 2.68). The CBRN dimension, although marginalized in institutional discourse, emerges as a concern among informal waste pickers exposed to diffuse hazardous waste. The study recommends establishing a formalized coordination framework, systematically integrating risk assessment into budget allocation, and developing specific streams for diffuse hazardous waste.

Keywords: Household waste; Kinshasa; Administrative coordination; Public policy; Risk perception; CBRN.

Received Date: August 17, 2026

Accepted Date: September 09, 2026

Published Date: October 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/991