| dc.description.abstract | Waste is produced by human activity, and the absence of effective waste management practices
puts the environment and the general population at risk. Municipal Solid Waste Management
(MSWM) difficulties and issues, particularly in the rapidly urbanizing cities of the developing
globe, are of vital importance. This study assessed the knowledge and practices of Mbarara city
residents concerning solid waste management.
Methods. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, the researcher conducted a community-based
cross-sectional study with 220 families. Six questions were used to evaluate waste management:
(1) the presence of solid waste collection and storage containers; (2) the use of covered
receptacles for solid waste collection; (3) collection receptacle and storage area not overflowing
with waste; (4) the absence of solid waste scattered in the household compound; (5) the
segregation of solid waste at the household level; and (6) the absence of flies and other vectors in
the home (Yes or No). Each response to the questions that emphasizes appropriate practice was
assigned code 1 and the unsatisfactory practices were assigned code 0. Households with a score
of at least 4 out of 5 were defined as having proper solid waste management practices, and
households with a score of 3 or less were classed as having incorrect waste management
practises, according to the methodology employed in a prior study by Ssemugabo et al (2020).
Results. Only 73 out of 220 (or 33% of the families) used proper waste management techniques.
63% (138/220) of households lacked containers for collecting and storing solid waste. Only 38%
(31/82) of the households with solid waste collection and storage containers had covered
receptacles; 66% (54/82) of the households did not have collection receptacles and storage
spaces overflowing with waste; and 34% (28/82) of the households did. In terms of the
difficulties households had in managing their solid waste, 29% (64/220) and 45% (99/220)
identified a lack of additional trash cans and alternative garbage disposal choices as the two
biggest obstacles, respectively. 90% (199/220) of respondents were aware of the value of
appropriate waste disposal, and 50.91% (112/230) said that improper garbage disposal had a
significant negative impact on humans, animals, children, and the environment.
Conclusion. In general, solid waste management was poor. As a result, improving solid waste
management in developing cities necessitates a series of interventions that target knowledge,
physical, and behavioural components of the problem. | en_US |
