Solid waste management practices and sustainable development in Uganda: a case study of Bududa town council, eastern Uganda.

Abstract

The study was about solid waste management practices and sustainable development in Uganda: a case study of Bududa Town Council, Eastern Uganda. The research objectives of the study were (i) to identify the solid waste management methods used by communities in Bududa Town Council, Eastern Uganda, (ii) to evaluate the effects of waste management practices on the environment and human health in Bududa Town Council, Eastern Uganda and (iii) to identify appropriate methods that can be used to manage solid waste collection with less environmental damage in Bududa Town Council, Eastern Uganda. The study employed a case study research design which was descriptive in nature. Data collected was mainly from the field using questionnaires and personal checklists. Data was summarized, sorted, edited and analyzed using SPSS tables and the findings were presented in a report format. Simple and Purposive sampling techniques were used to select respondents from the sample size of 67 and the response rate was 64. This was considered satisfactory. Results of findings revealed that 79.7% agreed that recycling/ resource recovery reduces pressure on the collection of waste in Bududa Town Council, 15.6% did not agree and 4.7 were not sure. Results of findings from the field reveal that 78.1% agreed that open dumping is a common method used to dispose waste in Bududa Town Council though disapproved of by 6.3% and 15.6% were not sure. Findings revealed that 73.5% agreed that sanitary landfill are used as a major method where garbage is spread out in thin layers, compacted and covered with clay, and 26.5% disagreed whereas 23.4% were not sure with the statement. Findings from the study revealed that, the results show that majority 76.6% of the respondents agreed that the uncollected dumped wastes constitute a disaster for human health and environmental degradation. From the study findings, 71.8% of the respondents agreed that decomposition of waste into constituent chemicals is a source of Local environmental pollution. 15.7% of the respondents disagreed and 12.5% of the respondents were not sure. The researcher recommends that the effects of the solid waste management methods can be reduced by use of appropriate methods like promotion of reduction, reuse and recycle. Finally, xv the researcher recommends that bodies like NEMA should be contacted in doing an up to date EIA so as to come up with better strategies of handling and disposing the waste with minimal pollution to the environs if any.