Assessment of community participation in waste management: case study Katabi town council, Wakiso district, Uganda

Abstract

Globally, communities in both urban and rural areas are seriously facing the problems of waste management in term of collection, transportation and disposal. This is due to low community’s participation in developing countries affecting environmental and health conditions. This study looked at the Assessment of Community participation in waste management in Katabi Town Council, Wakiso district, Uganda. In this particular research, participation refers to mechanisms in which household families or group share waste management responsibilities, such disposal, waste collection and recycling for their own benefits. The main objective of the study was to assess the level community participation in waste management in Katabi Town Council. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used for this study in which a total of 103 household respondents and 10 participants informed this study. These were reached through purposive and random sampling. Observation, questionnaires and interviews were used during the collection of primary data. Data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found that, there were different types of waste in Katabi town such as sewage (liquid waste), Manure/Crop residues, Polythene bags, plastic bottles, paper, metal (solid wastes) and hospital wastes such as needles, cotton wool and gauges. The study indicates that, waste management was carried out by private waste collectors, community neighborhood and the Town Council authorities that collect and transport waste to a dumping site. The community played roles of waste collection, financing, sorting, composting, use waste containers and recycling. Identified challenges of involving the community in waste management were, delay in waste collection, weak law enforcement, and high fees levies by private collectors. The study recommends promotion of 3R in waste management, (Reuse, Reduce and Recycle), capacity building for local communities, and subsidizing the fees levies for waste collection by private waste collectors in order for everyone to benefit from the services and reduce poor waste management habit. Further studies could be conducted on effectiveness of funds allocation and alternative sources of funding for effective waste management in Katabi Town Council