Attitudes of households towards solid waste management in Kasoa township

Abstract

The study sought to assess the attitudes of households towards solid waste management within Kasoa Township. To achieve the study objectives, a convergent parallel design based on the mixed- methods approach was adopted for the study. The single-stage cluster sampling technique was employed in selecting 246 household respondents aside 5 key informants who were purposively selected. Data collection instruments included a structured questionnaire, unstructured interview guide and observation guide. The quantitative data obtained were presented and analysed using descriptive statistics from the SPSS version 20 software and were complemented with qualitative data under emergent themes. It emerged from the study that majority of the households in Kasoa Township have poor attitudes towards source reduction and re use of solid wastes materials although they were concerned about the generation rates. The high cost of procuring wastes bins and high fees charged by Zoomlion and other private waste collectors were the major affronts in managing solid wastes effectively by the households in Kasoa Township. It was recommended that advocacy for attitudinal change towards source reduction and re-use would help in changing households‟ attitude towards solid waste generation in the study area. Also, subsidization of the cost of procuring waste bins by the ASEMA for low-income households would be a laudable step to curb the attitude towards open dumping. By implication, the study findings and recommendations would furnish the ASEMA and Zoomlion with in-depth information in taking pragmatic steps to monitor and collect solid wastes effectively in households within Kasoa Township.