Challenges Of Solid Waste Management In Urban Centres: A Case Study Of Tororo Municipality

ABSTRACT

;olid wastes ate becoming a big problem/ monster in many towns' of the world and Tororo is no

'xception. Most cities do not collect the totality of waste generated, and of the waste collected

mly a fraction receives proper disposal. The insufficient collection and inappropriate disposal of

:olid wastes acts as a source of water, land and air pollution, and pose a risk to human health and

he environment. Over the coming decades, globalization, rapid urbanization, increased

>Opulation growth and economic growth in the developing world will tend to further increase

his situation if effective measures are not adopted early enough.

:he study focused on challenges of Solid Waste Management is Tororo Municipality. The main

:spects considered in this research are the types and sources of solid wastes generated, types

methods of solid waste disposal and the key challenges faced in solid waste management and

:!so possible solutions for better Solid Waste Manage111ent in the community. A total of 150

espondents were involved in the study that included local community, their leaders and

:dministration ofTororo Municipal council.

:he study established that biodegradable wastes are the most generated that include food staffs,

1apers, grass and leaves, having their largest sources being the households and the market areas,

nd street sweeping. The non biodegradable waste observed include; polythene bags (kaveera)

,lastics, metals, tins, building debris. The medical wastes referred to as special wastes include,

.sed syringes and needles, blades, cotton, gauze, placentas and expired medicine. All wastes

,roduced have negative effects if not handled properly. However, the wastes at the source are

tared mostly in plastic cans, sacks, polythene bags (kaveera), and carton boxes, that is at

1dividual level, while at communal level skips have be placed in strategic points that are later

lken to the dump site.

)espite the mode of storage it was noted that the most common method of disposing waste was

y open dumping and ·burning, this kind of practice creates a big risk to human health. This is as

result of not frequently removing the waste dumped around and in the skips, this is attributed

) poor organization of collection and transport system and the disposal is by non-complex

~chniques such as crude dumping in ill designed landfill which is actually just dump site.

'he challenges in Solid Waste Management observed include indiscriminate disposal, lack of

torage facilities for example limited number of skips so some areas do not have skips,

1adequate sensitization among community members on proper waste disposal and its effects,

)w participation levels among community members, inadequate tools and equipments for Solid

Taste Management and poor transport system. As a result there was little effort to reduce on the

roblem.

he study established that sensitization of the community should be given more attention. The

ommunity members suggested the following, community sensitization, privatize the work of

)]id waste management. The researcher recommends; sensitizing the community on proper

raste disposal and sorting of waste at the source of generation, cost sharing by introducing arbage fees, policy that encourages community participation.