Lifecycle analysis of solid waste management in Ntungamo Municipal Council

Abstract

The lifecycle analysis of solid waste management was carried out in Ntungamo Municipality. The main objective of the study was to determine the causes of poor waste management. It was also to assess the impact of poor waste management and identify solutions and ways of implementing the improved methods of waste management in the Municipality. Both Primary and Secondary data was used in this analysis. Primary data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and secondary data was collected by reviewing documents. Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews were conducted using an FGD /Key informant guide for the qualitative data. A total of 100 community members were interviewed for quantitative data. Data was coded and entered using Epidata and data cleaning analysis was done using SPSS and Excel. Five Focus Group Discussions and 10 Key Informant Interviews were conducted using the interview guide and data was analyzed thematically on causes, impacts and solutions. The response rate was 100% with 60% males and 40% females. The thematic areas analyzed were waste generation, waste collection and transmission dumping sites and distance to dumping sites, impacts, challenges and opportunities. The study findings show lack of trained manpower and limited numbers of community dustbins are the leading causes of poor waste management. The study also shows that if waste is properly managed in primary stages it improves the waste management. The Municipal Council needs to carry out massive community sensitization on dangers of poor waste management and benefits of proper waste management. The municipal council should also decentralize waste management to divisional level and also engage in public private partnership to improve waste management.

The researcher recommends that future studies should be carried out on the possible ways of recycling waste; modern methods of waste management and how waste can be improved for financial benefits in Ntungamo Municipality.