An assessment on plastic waste management options: A Case of Hoima City

Abstract

Cities around the world generate around 1.3 billion tons of waste annually and this value was expected to increase to 2.2 billion by 2025. Uganda, like many other developing countries, are facing rapid urbanization of 4.5% per annum with the urban population growing faster (3.7%) than the national average (3.4%). The increase in population has led to increased waste generation. Waste is sometimes described as a resource put in a wrong place. Also described as any unwanted material from a manufacturing process. Waste is any material of solid character that the possessors no longer consider useful. It is known that discarded plastics pose a threat to human health and environment, due to its non-biodegradable nature plastics causes irreversible damage to the environment. The study aimed at assessing the plastic waste management options in Hoima city. Two objectives guided this study which were; to establish the status of existing plastic waste management and the plastic waste innovative practices and to find out the different types and sources of plastic waste. The study used a descriptive design. People were randomly through the use of questionnaires, key informants and observations and the data was analyzed quantitatively. The study found out that several plastic materials are used in everyday life such as LDPE, PET, HDPE, PVC, PS, PE and PP therefore always expected to be generated in the cities. The collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in Hoima city are the responsibility of the city council and its contracted private collectors. The bring and the doo-to-door system are the major solid waste collection methods because of their applicability and accessibility by the people. Waste disposal practices included; open dumping, burning and keeping were preferred and landfills were the core designated disposal sites. Plastic wastes can be potentially reused in different forms for example art and craft, home gardening materials but also as storage vessels.