Strategies for Improving Waste Management in Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Abstract

This study was undertaken to identify effective and efficient strategies for waste management in Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary located in Lake Victoria. The objectives were to (i) characterize types of wastes in and around Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, (ii) examine challenges associated with poor waste management; and (iii) devise effective and efficient waste management strategies. Fifty respondents were selected for the study. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using basic statistical measures. The results show that, there were types of waste. These included Polythene bags, plastic bottles and floating industrial wastes. The challenges associated with, poor wastes management included disease outbreak, death of important wildlife species, loss of life of chimpanzees, worsened climate change effects which arose due to waste burning and reduced numbers of tourists. The efficient and effective waste management strategies that should be used include; digging trenches for disposing the wastes, pouring decomposable wastes in the farms as manures, sensitizing local communities and tourists, reusing\ recycling plastic and metallic wastes and putting sign posts all over the sanctuary to guide visitors to disposal sites at the sanctuary. It is recommended that rubbish at the sanctuary is collected regularly. In addition, a recycling plant to change waste into reusable materials should be established to reduce costs of transporting waste from the Island. The local communities should be sensitized and tourists upon arrival on proper waste disposal and impacts of poor waste management, more dustbins should be installed and appropriate signage to guide visitors.