Assessing Solid Waste Management in Bwaise to Design an Appropriate Handling System

ABSTRACT

This report is from a study that looks at the nature, practices, challenges, and possible solutions for solid waste management systems in Bwaise, Kampala. The study used mainly questionnaires, interviews and observation. The findings suggest that in Bwaise, poor communities could generate income from waste disposal activities, if certain measures are put in place. Furthermore, in this area, 60% of the garbage is biodegrable, composed mainly of food related waste. Non-biodegradable wastes constitute of the 40%, of which the main component is polythene bags. It was also established that a good part of the communities currently use illegal methods of disposal which include burning and open space dumping. Among the challenges facing solid waste management are the inactivity of institutional framework to support and mobilize for effective waste disposal. As a result there is little community effort to reduce on the problem. So sensitization of community should be given more attention. The communities suggested the following solutions: sensitization and community work. The study recommended the following: composting, sensitization, and building strong institutions at grassroots levels and participation of the community from the initial stage of designing the project. After analyzing the background, the waste flows the appropriate method that will be used will be composting using a composting tumbler made in order to convert organic waste into compost. If maintained, the compost will benefit the division in the ecological and the financial level. Money can be saved by using this organic fertilizer with a minimum cost. This report contains chapters whose contents are as below; Chapter one: Introduction which gives the general background of the study, statement of the problem, significance of the project, project objectives and scope of the project. Chapter two: Literature review which reviews documents related to the study topic. Chapter three: Methodology which contains the tools and softwares used in the research to obtain the specific objectives. Chapter four: Results obtained, their analysis and discussions. Chapter five: Conclusions and recommendations.