Assessment of Community Participation in Solid Waste Management in Bagamoyo Town, Tanzania

Mazengo, Chonge (2016) Assessment of Community Participation in Solid Waste Management in Bagamoyo Town, Tanzania. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

Solid waste management is a primary cause for concern in most municipals in Tanzania as most municipals cannot collect and dispose-off all of the solid waste generated, the remaining are left causing health hazards, smell nuisance, increased pests and environmental problems. This study assessed local community participation in solid waste management in Bagamoyo town, Tanzania. A cross sectional study was used in the study and data were collected using both structured and non-structured interviews. Field observations and secondary data supplemented the data collected using questionnaires. Collected data were analysed using SPSS version 20 software. Results indicated respondents were mainly involved in cleaning of their surroundings, collection, storage, transportation and final disposal of solid waste but are not involved in treatment and recycling. Results indicated that only 28% of the households involved in this study use burning, 25% use refuse pits, 28% use communal centres/ collection points and 19% use open dumping as mechanisms for managing solid wastes produced in the households. Results also indicated that, lack of collection and storage facilities at household and community levels is a major problem and solid waste management (SWM) is largely perceived to be a responsibility of local government authorities thus their attitude towards participating in SWM is quite unfavourable. There is a need to put more efforts towards educating and sensitizing community members about their role in SWM activities and use of modern alternatives of SWM like composting. There is a need also to have strong environmental committees for purposes of enhancing community participation at community members.

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