Published Paper Details:

Rapid urbanisation, population growth, and changing consumption patterns have resulted in a substantial increase in municipal solid waste generation worldwide. While solid waste management (SWM) has conventionally been addressed as a sector-specific urban service focused on collection, treatment, and disposal, growing scientific evidence suggests that improperly managed solid waste exerts far-reaching environmental impacts that extend well beyond disposal sites. In particular, interactions between solid waste, landfill leachate, urban wastewater systems, stormwater runoff, and surface water bodies create complex and often under-recognised pollution pathways. These interactions are especially pronounced in cities of developing regions, where inadequate waste segregation, poorly engineered landfills, limited wastewater treatment capacity, and dense drainage networks coexist. This integrated review synthesises existing literature on the formation and evolution of landfill leachate, its chemical and biological characteristics, and the mechanisms by which solid waste-derived contaminants are transferred into urban wastewater and surface water systems. The role of hydrological processes, including runoff, drainage connectivity, and seasonal rainfall, is examined as a critical driver of pollutant mobilisation and transport. The review further analyses the cumulative impacts of these interconnected pathways on surface water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and public health. By bridging disciplinary boundaries between solid waste management, wastewater engineering, hydrology, and urban environmental governance, this paper argues for a transition from sectoral waste management toward integrated urban environmental management frameworks. Key research gaps and policy implications are identified, highlighting the need for coordinated planning and governance to mitigate the growing burden of urban aquatic pollution.