Unlocking the potential of market vendors in enhancing solid waste management in Kawempe division

Abstract

Solid waste management is rapidly increasing as populations increase, urbanization increases, industrialization, and increased use of non-biodegradable plastics and bottles. Poor solid waste management has further resulted into flooding, air pollution, spreading diseases and health conditions giving rise to socio-economic losses. Studies focusing on solid waste management have been conducted across different parts of the globe but studies focusing on unlocking the potentials of market vendors towards solid waste management are still limited. The current study therefore assessed the strategies employed by market vendors in solid waste management and examined the challenges constraining market vendors efforts in solid waste management. A cross sectional research approach was undertaken using mixed approaches (qualitative and quantitative methods) where systematic sampling was employed on market vendors and purposive sampling on the key informants. Data was collected through field surveys, interviews and direct field observations; and then analyzed using thematic content analysis where descriptive statistics (percentages and frequencies) were generated in Microsoft excel spread sheets and then presented inform of tables, pie charts and bar graphs. Findings from the study revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between gender and waste handling with P-values of 0.004. The study also reported that there was a statistically significant relationship between age and waste handling with a P-value of .000. Basing on the fact that P<0.05, we can therefore reject the null hypothesis in favor of the alternative and conclude that there is a significant relationship between Age and Gender in waste handling. The study reported that open dumping, burying, use of landfills, recycling was all found to be least effective. The chi-square tests suggest that the effectiveness of the various strategies is not viable with majority of them being not significant. There is therefore need to sensitize market vendors on what needs to be done and the benefits of sustainable solid waste management