Factors Affecting Household waste Management in Soroti Municipality.

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed at investigating the factors affecting household waste management in Soroti district. The study was conducted in Soroti municipality in Eastern Uganda having a population of 49,452. The main objective was: To investigate factors affecting household waste management in Soroti municipality. And the specific objectives were to establish methods of waste disposal used by households in Soroti municipality, to determine the level of knowledge of the households towards waste management in Soroti municipality, and to establish the type of wastes generated by the households in Soroti municipality. Methodology: The study design used was a descriptive, cross-sectional survey where data was collected from a cross section of the households under study. The sample size used was 220 households and was determined by using kish and leslie formula 1963; Simple random sampling was used to select the households and the data was analyzed using statistical package for social scientist (SPSS) version 18.0 soft ware Results: The most common type of household wastes produced within the municipality of Soroti was biodegradable 75.5 %. The study also found out that the level of awareness by the community members regarding household waste management was low as 35 % since the municipal council did not actively involve, mobilize, and sensitize community members about waste management. Conclusions: The conclusions of the study have been made basing on the significant findings of the study areas on the common type of wastes produced in Soroti municipality as biodegradable wastes, the level of knowledge of the residents in the municipality regarding household waste management and the major method of household waste disposal commonly used as compositing. Recommendations: The researcher therefore recommends to the government and the municipality of Soroti to adopt policies that aim at establishing standardized approaches of household waste management like sensitization, training and mobilizing talk shows about waste management with the community members who are producers of wastes to participate actively in planning, implementation and monitoring of waste management activities.