GreenhouseGas Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Management in Arua City.

Abstract

This study investigatedgas emissions from municipal solid waste management in Arua city, and explored potential for reducing them. Thestudy purposively sampled 60 schools and hotelsin Arua city. Data was collected using drafted questionnaires and interviews carried out. Analysis was done using SPSS. Descriptive statistics was done to examine the research objectives.From the findings, use of open containers and closed containers were the most common methods for temporary storage of solid wastewith each at 40% of the total. Reusable granny bags standing at 50% were the most common containers for holding waste mostly for a day (51.7%). Among the solid wastes that generate greenhouse gases, organic waste was the most common standing at 76.67%. The use of landfills was the most common methods for disposition of municipal solid waste that generate greenhouse gases. Proper management of solid waste was the most common (30%) mitigation strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from solid waste. Thestudy concluded that landfills were being used for disposal of solid waste in the city, organic waste were the most generated wastes, and proper management of solid wastes, recycling, awareness creation, banning of plastics, timely collection of wastes, and investing in drainage channels were the possible mitigation strategies identified to combat emission of greenhouse gases from solid waste generated in the city. The study recommends that, the government should prioritize creation of awareness on waste management in both institutions and communities highlighting the impact of these wastes on greenhouse gas emission. The government should intervene in the ban of plastics and instead prioritize the production and use of decomposable bags to be used by institutions and in communities. More landfills that can be properly managed by municipal waste management authorities should be set up as they are the most used in the city. .