| dc.description.abstract | Waste management is recognized by the United Nations as a logical starting point for
sustainable solid waste management. The United States Environmental Protection
Agency,(2006) defines waste management as a broad term employing all waste management
methods, source reduction, recycling, and composting that result into waste going to the landfill
or combustion facility. Waste management systems have received much attention in developed
countries leading to increased understanding of their application and thus their ultimate societal
prevalence.
In developing countries such as Uganda, waste management strategies are less familiar but have
the potential to resolve the current waste issues. The current household waste management
practices such as disposal by burning and indiscriminate dumping resulting from indiscriminate
collection negatively impact public environmental health. Additionally, past interventions have
not resulted into improvement in waste management.
Therefore, an investigation was warranted to determine the effects of waste management
systems in Wobulenzi Town Council based on the local need for sustained solutions.
This study was carried out in Wobulenzi town council in Luweero district. It was carried out on
the topic “Effects of waste management systems on the health of people in Wobulenzi Town
Counci”l.
The objectives of the research was to find out the garbage management systems in the town
council, establish the nature of garbage generated in the town council and assess the effects of
waste management systems on the health of residents, make conclusions and recommendations
according to the findings as way forward for proper waste management in the town council. By
using a case study design that employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches for data
collection, data about waste management systems, nature of garbage generated in Wobulenzi
Town Council was collected from the sample population.
The researcher used various tools that enabled him to collect raw data and these included
questionnaires, interview guides, Focus Group Discussions and observations.
A population sample of 100 respondents was used to gather raw data and these included
business institutions, household representatives, education institutions, and government health
centers, private clinics, local leaders, Town Health Inspector, an Environment Officer and
representatives of the garbage collecting firm to provide a wider outlook of the effects of waste
on the health of the people. The study revealed that garbage management systems in the town
council included but not limited to dumping, use of bins, burning on heaps, transporting to dump
sites and use of pit latrines. The garbage generated in the town council were both degradable and
non degradable.
Malaria was found to be the most health problem posed by waste management in the town
council, others included; pollution of the environment and other related diseases spread by
vectors like house flies. Therefore, the effects of waste management systems on the health of
residents included diseases like malaria, cholera, and they are spread by vectors which are
common on garbage heaps. Finally, the study recommended health communication, education
awareness programs on health risks regarding waste management practices among others. | en_US |
