Geospatial Assessment of Waste Dumpsites in Kinshasa: Health and Environmental Risks

Over a hundred dumpsites were recorded between 2015 and 2025 in Kinshasa, the Capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Studies investigating health and environmental risks along with the impacts of these sites are scarce. The current study analyzes the spatial distribution of solid waste dumpsites in Kinshasa, the correlation between their density and hotspots with population indicators, their proximity to water bodies and buildings and the inherent risks. Results show higher dumpsites’ density in the communes of Bumbu and Makala. Regression analysis shows no meaningful correlation between dumpsites hotspots and demographic metrics. Proximity analysis reveals 53 connection segments between water points and 20 dumpsites within 300-meter buffers,  with 37 intersection points with water bodies, 4 with riverbanks, 6 with wetlands and 6 with reservoirs. The major rivers at risk include the Congo River in Pool Malebo, along with N’djili river. Three sites revealed higher risks(≥5 connection points).  Regarding the proximity of human settlements, 172 dumpsites count in their vicinity(300 m) thousands of settlements involved in urbanites’ daily activities, including  houses, schools, churches, hospitals. Among these, 11 sites indicate critical public health exposure with a count of >12000 buildings(22%), and 41 sites with 26674 buildings(47%). Adequate governance and engineering interventions to manage existing dumpsites are urgently needed to mitigate the health and environmental risks, effects and impacts of municipal solid waste on residents and other urban ecosystems.