Municipal Solid Waste Management, “a Perspective on Lira Municipal Council”

Abstract

In many urban areas of the world, municipal solid waste management (MSW) is a major challenge, especially in the cities of developing countries. The study sought to assess effects of municipal solid waste management in Lira Town Council. The specific objectives of the study were to (i) identify the types and sources of wastes generated in the study area (ii) investigate the onsite solid waste handling/storage container and methods of waste disposal in the study area (iii) examine the effects of poor solid waste disposal and lastly examine actors involved in solid waste management. Data was collected using household surveys, in-depth-interviews as well as focused group discussions held with selected households in Lira Municipal Council. In-depth interviews and FGD responses were categorized into themes in line with the study objectives and descriptive statistics were generated where possible. Results indicated that use of radio raised public awareness about solid waste. Food and/or crop waste especially in markets remains the biggest challenge that requires multiple solutions. Although old buckets and bins were used for storage and disposal, population increase contributed to waste increment which requires frequent collection. The use of open space for dumping caused bad smells or odors which lead to air pollution. There is need for communities, government and private companies to have joint efforts towards proper management of wastes. Key words: waste, municipal solid waste, disposal methods, actors and effects