Paper short abstract:

Waste facilities are often located away from affluent neighborhoods. This is because waste is too uncivilized to be a neighbor of the civilized communities. However, How best can human communities 'civilize the burden of waste' through promotion of environmental justice?

Paper long abstract:

A growing body of evidence reveals that environmental problems of human civilization are not borne equitably by various population segments of society. More often than not, people with low income tend to bear greater environmental and health risks of civilization than affluent people. For example, in most cities, low-income settlements play host to most waste dumping sites while affluent communities enjoy some of the best waste management, health, water and sanitation facilities even though affluent people (by virtue of their consumption habits) generate more waste. Using empirical data from waste sites in Kenya, this paper argues that a number of factors predispose low-income communities to environmental injustice and unless these are addressed, their environmental visions of the future seem to speak to fate rather than voice and action. A dominant environmental thinking is emerging that seems to legitimize environmental deprivation even where opportunities that favour the weak are available. Can the waste burden be 'civilized' through environmental justice actions?