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The majority of the world population is not covered by the mainstream financial sector. As such, mobile money services are seen as a cost effective and efficient way of increasing financial inclusion. However, there remains some factors that impede the development of mobile money services. Therefore, this study sought to analyse these factors with a view to identifying strategies that can be used to accelerate the development of mobile money services.

The chapter provides an overview of sustainable solid waste management (SSWM). In order to understand SSWM, the definitions of solid wastes (SWs) are reviewed and gaps are identified. From the identified gaps, a new definition of plastic solid wastes (PSWs) is developed.

To achieve sustainable management of PSWs, numerous drivers are key for influencing implementation. The chapter discusses in detail the numerous drivers that influence sustainable management of PSWs from the developed and developing economy perspectives. The drivers include incorporation of IWS into formalized systems, economic incentives, appropriate technology considerations, societal participation and awareness recycling schemes, regulations and legislations, collection and segregation systems, household education, institutional arrangement, training the informal waste sector and local recycled material markets. Applicability of the drivers to the developing economy context is emphasized by understanding the drivers and studying how each driver was achieved from a developed economy perspective. In this regard, feasibility studies are recommended for determining the relevance of each driver in each context.

The evolution of sustainability is discussed for the purposes of presenting the current status in developing economies. From the definitions of sustainability presented by the United Nations, the developing economies are working with the same definition. In this regard, the chapter presents an overview of sustainability by discussing the three pillars of sustainability.

Smart energy access provides numerous advantages in rural areas such as economic development and improved livelihood. Despite the efforts by energy companies to supply to rural areas, women still face a range of constraints in their ability to participate in energy activities. Therefore, this study sought to analyze the goals of access to smart energy on women empowerment from the energy company perspective, assess the extent to which access to smart energy has contributed to empowerment and to establish the challenges faced by women in accessing smart energy with the intent of outlining strategies for future implementation. The study used a qualitative thematic analysis approach. The data was collected through structured, open-ended interviews with 20 women respondents with access to energy in chitandika village and 1 in-depth interview with the key energy expert. The study found that access to smart energy in chitandika village had a positive effect on women empowerment as it provided several benefits for the women. Additionally, the study established general and specific challenges that women face in accessing smart energy. Furthermore, it was established that the key strategies for implementing smart energy access on women empowerment were gender mainstream in energy projects, understanding women’s energy needs and demands, promoting productive use, supporting credit, and saving schemes and promoting skill development.

Recycling continues to contribute to the sustainable management of plastic solid wastes (PSWs) and it’s among the important approaches currently used for reducing the impacts of PSWs in the plastic industry. It provides opportunities for reducing quantities of wastes disposed, oil usage and carbon dioxide emissions. Further, opportunities in form of job creation, global warming reduction, reduction of virgin material consumption, reduction in landfill contamination etc. It also presents demerits such as being costly, contamination, littering, pollution etc. The chapter outlines the concept of recycling with particular attention to plastics. It discusses the two strategies of recycling: open-loop recycling and closed-loop recycling. These strategies are compared and the difference is that, open-loop recycling provides an opportunity for new product development while closed-loop is confined to the original products. Different recycling processes such as primary recycling, secondary (mechanical) recycling, tertiary recycling and energy recovery are discussed by focussing on the processes, merits and demerits. Recycling is contributing to the sustainable management of wastes and, because of advances in technologies and systems for segregating, collecting and reprocessing of recyclable wastes, it is rapidly expanding. It is creating new opportunities for integration with industries, communities and the governments.

Plastic Solid Wastes (PSWs) recycling is an important component to sustainable manufacturing. In developing economies, the majority of the recovery and recycling is conducted by the Informal Waste Collectors (IWCs). An assessment is conducted to understand the ways in which the IWCs add value to the recovered PSWs prior trading to the plastic converting companies. A questionnaire survey is conducted with the IWCs and a total of 53 questionnaires are analysed. A number of value addition aspects are identified including; sorting, cleaning, classifying, washing and drying and grouping into commercial quantities. Buyers along the supply-chain are considered as an aspect of value addition. The identified value addition aspects are important and relevant to upcoming and existing plastic convertors in terms of driving sustainable manufacturing and value creation for a circular economy.

A number of factors are important and key to achieving sustainable manufacturing in the plastic industry. Recycling has received considerable attention as a key to sustainability. It contributes to resource utilization and waste management. To achieve sustainability, a number of stakeholders are involved and households are a key aspect. A survey of 445 households is conducted to establish factors that prevent households from participating in plastic recovery and recycling programs. The results indicate relevant factors for consideration by the plastic industries and policy makers when designing recycling and recovery programs.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the present municipal solid wastes (MSWs) management system, from an engineering management (EM) perspective, for the City of Kitwe while proposing a levers-driven sustainable municipal solid waste management (MSWM) model focussing on improving waste management (WM). Design/methodology/approach The research work involves four stages. First, a comprehensive review of literature is conducted on MSWM. Second, structured interviews are conducted with key experts in solid waste management in the City of Kitwe in order to enhance the knowledge inputs. Third, direct observations and an interview with a WM driver are conducted in order to understand; the collection, disposal and treatment options for MSWs. Lastly, a sustainable model for managing MSWs is proposed Findings The research findings indicate that the existing MSW system for the city is highly unsustainable and lacks EM methodologies. There are still a number of challenges in the management of MSWs which include: lack of proper collection and storage of MSWs; lack of an engineered landfill; lack of waste recovery and treatment systems; and lack of public education aimed at reducing and separating MSWs. Practical implications A correct and detailed database for waste generation, collection, treatment and disposal is needed for the City of Kitwe. The system is necessary for WM resources allocation as well as for planning sustainable WM projects. The proposed model has been developed based on the actual observations, data collection and analysis. Originality/value The research identifies a gap in the management of MSWs for the City of Kitwe. This work is original as no similar MSW model has been proposed globally and specific for a developing economy such as Africa.

Attributes possessed by plastic materials have contributed sustainably to the development of the plastic industry. However, despite these positive aspects of plastics, plastic industries have continued to face a number of challenges into the recovery and recycling of plastic for waste reduction and resource utilization. The study assessed the strategies that would positively influence plastic manufacturing and recycling companies to recover and recycle plastic solid wastes. A total of 15 plastic manufacturing and recycling companies were investigated in Zambia and the results showed favourable responses towards the recovery and recycling of PSW. The results have an economic, social and environmental impact for the plastic manufacturing and recycling companies as well as for the relevant decision makers in the waste management sector.

Different types of waste collection systems exist and the influence of each system on waste recovery differs. In order to sustainably recover resources from waste, it is cardinal to understand the different types of waste collection systems. In developed economies, different waste collection systems have been implemented to suit their context. As the developed economies pursue to recover resources from waste, it is vital that the influence of each collection system is understood. An extensive literature review was conducted on four different types of waste collection systems. Focus was paid on how each system has influenced resource recovery from the household perspective. The findings of the results are important to the waste management sector and manufacturing companies in the implementation of resource recovery systems and awareness programs.

Sustainability in domestic solid waste management involves waste recovery and households are a major stakeholder in waste management systems. However, the involvement of households in the recovery of waste for recycling, reuse and energy purposes is influenced by a number of levers. In order to achieve sustainable waste recovery systems, it is cardinal to understand the levers that influence households to recover waste from both developing and developed economies. A literature review was conducted to extensively identify and analyze the levers that influence households’ participation in waste recovery programs. The results indicate that; social demographic factors, economic incentives, awareness and knowledge on recycling, waste collection systems and other levers influence households to participate in the recovery of waste. The findings from the review may provide vital indicators to authorities in the waste management sector in Zambia and other nations for future implementation and development of solid waste recovery systems at source level in households and at awareness campaigns which publicly recommend the use of these systems.

This research addresses recycling in developing economies for sustainable waste management and resource utilization. The purpose of the research is to assess the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the levers that influence households’ participation in Plastic Solid Wastes (PSWs) recycling programs. A literature review on levers that influence households’ participation in recycling programs is conducted. Based on the identified levers, a questionnaire is designed and distributed to 445 households in the city of Ndola Zambia. Factor Analysis is performed on levers that influence households’ participation in recycling programs. An independent t-test analysis is conducted on socioeconomic factors and the levers. The results provide important information to plastic manufacturing and/or recycling companies, waste managers and policy makers in developing economies. The information is critical when designing and implementing waste recovery and recycling programs.

Purpose – Total quality management (TQM) is a management approach that was established to seek sources of continuous motion of improvement to provide quality products and services to customers or clients. TQM promotes organizational effectiveness through promoting stakeholder satisfaction, pursuing continuous improvement and fostering proactive leadership. The purpose of this paper is to explore TQM practices in secondary schools. The researchers set objectives which were to identify the TQM principles being practiced in secondary schools, the extent to which these principles are practiced and finally to determine the factors that affect the practice of these principles. The paper includes findings from an exploratory study of TQM practices in Zambian secondary schools. Design/methodology/approach – The research employed a purposive and simple random sampling in order to collect data from 120 secondary school teachers from a total of 1,740 secondary school teachers in Lusaka district drawn from ten secondary schools which were stratified into five zones, namely, Lusaka Central, Chilenje, Mumuni, Chibolya and Chunga zones. Questionnaires and structured scheduled interviews were used to collect data for the research. The research was also anchored on the theoretical and conceptual framework where hypotheses were formed and tested. Findings – The research formed hypotheses based on the seven principles of TQM and this was also verified through the analysis of questionnaires and structured interviews conducted. From the analysis and interpretation of the results, the following was found. Teamwork principle was found to be practiced although most respondents did not know the extent to which it was been practiced. Continuous improvement and training are also principles which were explored and found to be practiced. For continuous improvement, most of the respondents indicated this to have been achieved through carrying out monthly tests and end of term examinations to measure the excellence in-service delivery, as for the training principle; this has been interwoven with the policy of the ministry in programmes aimed at training in-service teachers and anticipated teachers. For the commitment principle, there was commitment from management with a view to working together for pupil satisfaction. For the quality principle, it was found that, at 95 per cent confidence level the mission statement, the motto and the vision of the school depicted quality-related activities. The research also established that at 95 per cent confidence level, teachers were empowered to take direct action whenever action is likely to affect quality. Practical implications – First, the value of this research was to inform management on the need to employ strategies aimed at sensitization programmes before, during and after the programme has come to an end. Second, to promote work attitudes that should promote quality management in education for continuous improvement in pupil performance. Third, for TQM to create a platform among head teachers, teachers, pupils, parents and other stakeholders to work to everyone’s ultimate advantage. Originality/value – This research is original work as it has never been done before in Lusaka district.

The recovery and recycling of Plastic Solid Waste (PSW) is an important aspect of achieving sustainability. The study reviewed technical constraints (Modeling levers) that influence households' participation in waste recovery and recycling programs from both developed and developing economies. A questionnaire based on the identified levers is developed and distributed to test the validity and significance of the levers. The results are adopted in the development of a levers' based reverse logistics (RLs) model for PSW in the Zambian context. The model provides a new and useful engineering approach for the management of PSW in both developed and developing economies influenced by similar levers.