Assessment of the sustainability of solid waste management in Epworth

The research was carried out to control with intentions of wanting to understand the causes and effects of the continuous piling of domestic waste in Epworth. The objectives of the study were to find out how solid waste collection is organised in Epworth and to assess waste management techniques that were being used within the Epworth communities. The research also recommended for some feasible and sustainable techniques that maybe used to address waste management in Epworth such as the introduction of waste segregation at source (at homes). The researcher used Focus Group Discussions, key-informant questionnaires and structured interviews to gather the data which was then analysed using content and thematic analyses procedures. The findings of the study revealed that the continuous dumping of domestic solid waste at undesignated places without the waste being collected has led to the outbreak of diseases, environmental problems such as land degradation, traffic inconveniences and the general loss of suburb natural aesthetics. The researcher recommended for the introduction of waste segregation concept at homes and separate recyclables, reuse of waste causing for the reduction of waste.

Introduction

Sanitation and hygiene promotion are considered the two most effective interventions for controlling endemics and pandemics. It is widely considered that WASH projects aims at linking water, sanitation and hygiene implying that there should be equal emphasis on all the three components. Solid waste generation and waste disposal remains key elements of WASH projects and education that promotes good hygiene practises and behaviour remains WASH mantra. Waste generation is on the rise especially in developing countries with the introduction of expanded polystyrene and face masks (to curb for COVID-19 infections) which currently cannot be handled since they cannot yet be recycled and also the levels of waste collection has been deteriorating due to financial instability within most developing countries.

Justification of study

Epworth suburb has been an epicentre should any waterborne disease epidemic be encountered 8in Harare. This renders waste generation and waste disposal management as a paramount approach coupled with hygiene education which can help to reduce the incidence of diseases in Epworth. Sustainable Development Goal number 3 and 6 seeks to halve the proportion of people without access to WASH; this is of vital relevance as it aims to ensure a good health and well-being to everyone and the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Methodology

This chapter represents the research paradigm the researcher adopted. A small sample of the population was collected through the use of purposive sampling technique which permits the selection of interviewees whose qualities or experiences permit an understanding of the phenomena in question, and are therefore valuable. The research instruments of the study involved use of Focus Group Discussions, key informant interviews and observations. Focus Group Discussions is a method of data collection in which the researcher discusses the aspects of the research problems with key respondents in order to come up with relevant data pertaining the study. During the Focus group discussions, disagreements would emanate within the key informants and this therefore rendered a lot of time consumed and loss of focus within the group. The researcher used in-depth interviews to gather data from the Epworth respondents. The interview comprised of semi-structured questions which the researcher captured as recordings. The interviews permitted the respondents to properly articulate their views on the issues under study. The ambiguity that could also arise during the collection of data could be clarified.

Results Analysis and Interpretation

This chapter presents an analyses and an interpretation of the data collected using various data collection techniques. The chapter also provides the findings pertaining to the objectives of the study, which sought to find out the problems caused by domestic solid waste piling along the streets in Epworth suburb. Five groups were used to classify the household composition in terms of the number of individuals within the particular household. The majority of the respondents in the study identified the potential risk of disease outbreaks as the major challenge posed by waste stockpiling on their roads. The respondents cited diseases such as cholera, typhoid and malaria as unending due to the conducive environment being created within Epworth.

Large heaps of solid waste were also being said to cause blockages within drains and other sanitary facilities and also as the sole source of bad odours within the community. The researcher also found out that there is inadequate solid waste collection as vans send by the Municipal Authority only comes once a week and sometimes once in two weeks in a suburb where waste of 2 tonnes is being produced a day. There is also no provision of bins from the local authority hence the genesis of solid waste being dumped and piled in undesignated places. This is done as a result of one bin and there is continuous waste being produced hence the once the bin is full it is emptied whether through formal means (damping in skip bins or being collected by local authority vans or informal means (damping of solid waste on an open free space).

Conclusion

From the findings in the study, the conclusions made were, the stockpiles of solid waste in Epworth presents health, environmental, accessibility and loss of suburb aesthetics, waste collection facilities provision in Epworth by the local authority is not suffice to the demands of waste being generated and the major waste management methods being used by residents are the informal means which include burning, burying and damping on open spaces.

Recommendations

The City Council must increase the number of refuse collection days to counteract high volumes of solid waste being produced. Residents in Epworth community must be equipped with enough knowledge in the financial benefits in solid waste so that they value solid waste.

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