Perceptions and practices of solid waste management amongst the households of Semuto Town Council in Nakaseke District

Abstract

Poor solid waste is increasingly becoming a vital issue worth considering in Uganda. This is because it is associated with increasing adverse health problems and environmental pollution. Despite these challenges, there is limited knowledge on the practices and perceptions of households towards solid waste management. This study was therefore designed to assess the current practices, and perceptions of households towards solid waste management in Semuto Town Council, Nakaseke District. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 384 households in Semuto Town Council in Nakaseke District. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered semi- structured questionnaire. Collected data was then analysed at a univariate level of analysis using STATA 14 software and the results were presented as frequencies, percentages, and proportions to assess the perceptions and practices of the households in Semuto town council towards solid waste management. More than half of the participants were male 201 (52.3%) and were aged between 25 and 34 years 178 (46.4%). The most generated wastes were food wastes 291 (75.8%). Majority of the respondents were aware of the effects of poor waste management 253 (65.9%). Majority of the respondents were not aware of any legal or institutional frameworks regarding solid waste management 261 (68.0%), and most of the respondents perceived that the waste management situation could be improved if the cost of solid waste collection could be reduced 274 (71.4%). The majority of participants 257 (66.9%) owned waste collection containers with most containers emptied just outside the household in an open place 189 (49.2%). Following the positive perceptions of residents in Semuto Town Council regarding solid waste management, the relevant authorities such as the public health department and private entities should aim at playing their role to improve the solid waste situation. Increased health education can also improve the overall solid waste situation in Semuto Town Council. Future studies on solid waste management in Semuto Town Council can focus more on finding out why certain perceptions such as that of waste not being useful at all exist among the people.