An assessment of solid waste management practices in rural areas : a case study of Shigalo

Abstract

This study focuses on solid waste management practices in rural areas, the case study of Shigalo village. The study was intended to analyse the current practices of solid waste in rural areas, evaluate the institutional framework towards solid waste management, and examine the social and environmental impacts of solid waste and to recommend strategies towards solid waste management in the study area. The data was collected through the use of questionnaires in the households, clinic and community care organizations to understand the current practices and Key informant interview was used to interview the Thulamela municipality. The findings of the study were that households dispose solid waste in the open land, streams, on streets and some burn of solid waste. The community organizations are involved in solid waste management through health education and encouraging people to dig holes in their stands to prevent spread of diseases emanating from improper garbage disposal. The respondent from municipality indicated that they are doing environmental campaign and health education in the study area and other rural areas. Municipality is proposing to extend the waste management to rural areas. The respondent from the clinic explained that many patients suffer from solid waste related diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and malaria. The recommendations of the study were that the existing landfill at Shigalo should be renewed to function so that the municipality would dump solid waste effectively and efficiently because it would be cheap to transport garbage. Another recommendation was to provide walk-in container bins (12m3) in each ward at Shigalo where households can dump garbage easily and the municipality should give them refuse plastic bags.