Effective household solid waste utilization in Iganga municipality, Iganga district :

Abstract

Waste is traditionally thought of having no value. Focus is more on downstream or end-of-pipe solutions and local governments spend significant amount of money on waste collection and disposal without adequate consideration on resource saving measures. and their economic return or input. Due to poor solid waste disposal and management, there has been an increase in indiscriminately dumped solid wastes in Iganga municipality. The main objective of the study was to generate information about the quantity and types of solid wastes generated by households. The specific objectives of the study included finding out reasons for current sources and amounts of different types of solid waste generated and dispersed by households determining key reasons for current solid waste storage, collection and disposal methods practiced by households and lastly, identifying social and economic factors that will determine people’s willingness to engage in solid waste resource and product recovery activities in the municipality. Out of the eleven parishes in the municipality, five were considered for the study and they include Nakavule, Nabidhonga, Kasokoso, Nkono and Bugumba. A sample size of 50 households was considered. Primary data was obtained by administering questionnaires to the respondents, observation and face to face interview with the municipality NRO. All households generated kitchen waste regardless of the source of income of their household head; this is naturally decomposable and therefore a higher opportunity for composting. It was found out that the Municipal council offered solid waste collection services free of charge, 80% of the households did not utilize their solid waste due to limited awareness about the practice (94%). However, all households were willing to participate in product and resource recovery activities like composting, biogas production, selling compost and collection of scattered solid waste. The study therefore, recommended awareness on proper solid waste management practices to the households and community at large by the responsible authorities.