Public participation in solid waste management : challenges and prospects : a case of Kira Town council, Uganda

Abstract

Solid waste disposal and management is both an urban and rural problem. Every person is a potential generator of waste and thus a contributor to this problem. To generate waste is one thing, the type of waste generated is another and yet also the way the generated waste is managed or disposed of is quite a different issue. This study was carried out in Kira Town Council which is located within Wakiso District in Central Uganda, in Buganda Region. The main objective of this study was to explore the level of public participation in solid waste management in Kira Town Council, in light of the challenges and prospects for future management. This study used a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to research. It therefore draws on the cross-sectional study design as explained by Bryman (2004) and also on aspects of a phenomenological research design as discussed by Blanche et al., (2006). The findings revealed that the majority proportion of the public in Kira Town Council exhibited concern and an amount of sensitivity about solid waste though sorting of solid waste is less adopted. The level of item reuse is similarly low in Kira Town Council and the people still think that they cannot do anything to reduce the volume of solid waste they generate. There are challenges of limited resources to manage the solid waste and illegal dumping in Kira Town Council. However, there are plans for formal disposal facilities, use of the legal instrument and awareness-raising as a way to deal with the challenges. Therefore, because the level of public participation in solid waste management at present in Kira Town Council is low, the best way to start dealing with the problem is for the Town Council authorities to show the people that they are worth by involving them in the initial planning process.