Categories, generation practices and barriers to solid waste management in Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

This study examined the generation practices and barriers to solid waste management in the Central Region of Ghana. The case study research design was adopted for the study. Using the simple random sampling procedure, 425 respondents comprising of 380 residents and 45 Zoomlion staff were involved in the study. The data were analysed through the computation of frequencies, percentages, as well as means and standard deviations. The study found out that, rubbish, food waste, and trash were the forms of solid wastes that were generated in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality. Also, it was realized that, both residents and Zoomlion staff observed a number of solid waste management practices. Again, there were a number of barriers to the effective solid waste management practices. These included inadequate environmental education; inadequate logistics and funds; inadequate depots, skips and dustbins; and apathetic attitude/inertia on the part of some of the residents. The study recommended that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Assembly should ensure that, the various households provide separate bins to sort out the types of solid waste (e.g. glass, paper, plastic, and rubber). Also, it is recommended that, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Assembly should organize education/training programmes on solid waste management on the need to reduce, reuse and recycle solid waste so that they can appreciate the need for sustainable development practices. Again, the Assembly should conduct regular monitoring system in order to ensure that residents adhere to the solid waste management practices. The Assembly should also make available a reliable data on solid waste generation for households in the Municipality.