Abstract

The growing challenges of pollution and unsustainable resource use have prompted a renewed approach to traditional industrial practices. One such strategy is industrial symbiosis and eco-industrial parks. However, despite the waste management challenges in Malawi, no such initiatives have been utilized, and all circular economy projects have only targeted household and market waste. The main aim of this study, therefore, is to investigate the potential waste-sharing pathways among the industries in Blantyre City to optimize resource use, minimize waste, enhance sustainability, and consequently contribute to turning Blantyre into an eco-city through the conversion of the industrial areas into eco-industrial parks. The study involved interviewing fifty-one industry managers from the Chirimba, Makata, and Maone industrial areas to establish solid waste-sharing pathways. It also included Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy analysis of liquid waste from twelve industries to understand water quality and establish its suitability for water symbiosis within the city. The study revealed the existence of few waste-sharing scenarios for both solid and liquid waste among industries, and additional waste-sharing pathways were identified. Liquid waste analyses revealed the presence of heavy metals in the wastewater generated by the industries. However, most metals (except iron, chromium, and cadmium for some industries) were in lower concentrations relative to WHO’s limits for both drinking and irrigation water. The maximum concentrations for iron, chromium, and cadmium were 19.99 mg/L, 0.713 mg/L, and 0.008 mg/L, respectively. SWOT analysis of industrial symbiosis revealed a number of notable strengths and opportunities, such as the presence of diverse waste streams and waste/service-sharing relationships among industries, alongside weaknesses and threats, such as insufficient infrastructure and technological shortfalls, just to mention a few. To successfully convert the industrial areas into eco-industrial parks, the study suggested an implementation framework that highlighted the need to develop industrial symbiosis policies, promote stakeholder collaboration, and improve the current infrastructure. Thus, the insights from this research will help policymakers, industry leaders, and community stakeholders in fostering a circular economy and a resilient urban ecosystem in Blantyre.

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School	: School of Natural and Applied Sciences
Issued Date	: 2025

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