Factors influencing solid waste management in Garissa municipality, Kenya

Abstract

This study, aimed at ascertaining factors influencing solid waste disposal and management in Garissa Municipality. The task included; establishing whether the size of human capital directly influences solid waste management in Garissa Municipality, finding out extent to which methods used in collection and disposal influences solid waste management in Garissa Municipality, establishing to what extent technologies used in solid waste management influences waste management in Garissa Municipality and establishing the extent to which community culture/attitude influences Solid Waste Disposal and Management in Garissa Municipality. This study employed quantitative research as the main approach to guide the study.

The target population included all Garissa municipal council staff. The research instrument used in data collection was a questionnaire from the respondents. To ensure validity of the instruments, expert opinion was sought. Data analysis was started immediately after the field.

Data was summarized into frequencies and percentages presented in tables. The study affirms that understaffing, lack of education, poor supervision, lack of appropriate facilities and lack of resident's support are among reasons leading to poor solid waste management in Garissa Municipality.

The study also found that manpower in waste disposal (1), facilities available at the council (2), attitude of community towards waste disposal (3), funding for waste disposal programs (4) and technology used in solid waste disposal (5) are factors influencing solid waste disposal ranked in that order.

From the study findings it can be concluded that human capital, level of technology, funding, facilities available and community attitude are factors influencing solid waste disposal and management in Garissa Municipality.