<![CDATA[Background: Rapid urbanization and population growth have intensified municipal solid waste generation, particularly in developing countries, leading to widespread practices of illegal dumping and open burning. These practices pose significant socio-economic, environmental, and public health challenges, especially in communities surrounding disposal sites such as the Bakoteh dumpsite in The Gambia. Methods: Rapid urbanization and population growth have intensified municipal solid waste generation, particularly in developing countries, leading to widespread practices of illegal dumping and open burning. These practices pose significant socio-economic, environmental, and public health challenges, especially in communities surrounding disposal sites such as the Bakoteh dumpsite in The Gambia. Results: The synthesis indicates that illegal dumping and open burning are consistently linked to environmental degradation through air, soil, and water contamination, as well as increased greenhouse gas emissions. These processes contribute to adverse health outcomes, particularly respiratory and waterborne diseases, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations. Socio-economic consequences, including livelihood disruption, informal sector dependency, and reduced environmental quality, were also recurrent themes. These impacts are primarily driven by inadequate infrastructure, weak policy enforcement, and limited public awarenes. Conclusions: The review highlights the urgent need for integrated solid waste management strategies that prioritize waste reduction, segregation, recycling, and resource recovery. Strengthening institutional capacity, policy implementation, and community engagement is essential to mitigate the adverse impacts of current practices and promote sustainable urban environmental management.]]>
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