Impact of Solid Waste Disposal On Sanitation Standards and Water Sources in Mbale Municipality, Eastern Uganda

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL

DEDICATION

DECLARATION .

Ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF ACRONYMS xi

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

3.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background to the Study 1

I .2 Problem statement 3

1.3 Objectives of study 3

1 .4 Research questions 4

1.5 Purpose of the Study 4

1.6 Scope of Study 4

1.7 Limitations and Delimitations of the Study 5

1.8 Definition of Key Concepts 5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.1 Types of solid wastes produced 6

2. 1.] Mitnicipal solid waste 6

2.1.2 Hazardous waste 6

2.2 Solid Wastes and Modes of Disposal 7

2.2.1 Land Filling 7

v

2.2.2 Incineration .8

2.2.3 Recycling .8

2.2.4 Sustainabilth’.9

2.2.6 Energy recove 9

2.2.7 Resource recovery 10

2.2.8 Avoidance and reduction niethod~c 10

2.3 Solid Wastes on Water Sources io

2.3.1 Solid Waste impacts on Water OualTh 10

2.4 Health impacts of solid waste 11

ChAPTER ThREE

3.0 RESEARCh METhODOLOGY 12

3. 1 Research Design 12

3.2 Population ofthe Study 12

3.3 Sampling Techniques 13

3.4 Sample size 13

3.5 Data collection procedures 13

3.6 Data collection instruments 13

3.6.1 The interview guide 13

3.6.2 Selfadministered questionnaire 14

3.7 Data processing 14

3.8 Data analysis 14

3.9 Limitations of the Study 14

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS 15

4.1 Categories of Respondents 15

4.2 Socio Economic Factors 16

vi

4.2.] Age ofRespondents .16

4.2.2 Sex of/he respondents .17

4.2.3 Occupation ofResidents 18

4.2.4 Type ofHousing 19

4.2.7 Number ofpeople with central solid waste 20

4.2.8 Types ofsolid waste facilities used 20

4.2.9 Ways ofdz~posmg offwastes 21

4.2.10 Distance between water source and waste /iiciliiy 22

4.3 Causes of poor Solid Wastes 22

4.3.] Lack ofAwareness 22

4.3.2 over Population 23

4.3.4 Low Staffing 24

4.3.5 Lack of Funds 24

4.3.6 Poor Planning ofhouseholds 25

4.4 Challenges Experienced By Key Actors in Wastes 25

4.4.] Inadequate Funds 25

4.4.2 Poyertv 25

4.4.3 Old equipments 25

4.4.4 Poor technology 26

4.4.5 Poor community response 26

4.5 Impact of Solid Waste Disposals 26

4.5.] Poor Health Status 26

4.5.2 Water contamination 27

4.5.3 Other Impacts 27

4.6 Management Strategies 27

VII

4.6.1 Establishment ofcentral collection Sites .27

4.6.2 Fines and taxes /~r waste thimping 27

4.6.3 Increasing the number ofSkips 28

4.6.4 Proper Methods of Disposal 28

4.6.5 Awareness ofMasses 28

4.6.6 Other Management Strategies 28

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 30

5.1 Summary 30

5.2 Conclusions 31

5.3 Recommendation 32

5.4 Areas for further Research 33

APPENDICES 34

APPENDIX 1: QUESTIONNAIRE TO MUNICAL RESIDENTS AND TRADERS 34

APPENDIX 2: INTERVIEW GUIDE (LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDER5) 40

APPENDIX 3: OBSERVATION CHECKLIST (For researcher only) 46

REFERENCES 48

ABSTRACT This piece of work includes information on the impacts of solid waste disposal on sanitation and water standards of Mbale municipality. Despite the fact that Mbale was considered one of the cleanest towns in East Africa in 1960s (URN Report), It’s now a shadow of its formal self. This has been majorly attributed to the poor solid wastes disposal which has affected the sanitation and water standards of the municipality. Poor polices, lack of funds, low staffing, ignorance, among others have led to poor management of wastes which in turn have resulted into poor health. This research therefore was aimed at establishing the different means of solid waste disposal and their effect on sanitation and water standards of the people of Mbale municipality. This was achieved through checklist/ observation, questionnaires, and interview guides. It was observed that most of the wastes in Mbale municipality are not collected due to lack of funds, low staffing. corruption, reluctance of the masses and poverty among others which has resulted in poor sanitation. Low water supply has also affected the sanitary activities in the municipality especially in Namatala zone in industrial information, It was upon this background that the researcher sought to provide some solution in the conclusion which included; the residents should be trained and sensitized in the field of solid wastes from the point of generation, collection, transport and disposal, there should be an increase in the funds allocated to the department of solid wastes so as to increase on the number of workers for efficiency, the workers in the department should be provided with protective gears against diseases related to sanitation, there should be fines levied on the people who carelessly dump wastes around the skips and on the streets among others.