Assessing the Quantity of Plastic Waste transported along Nakivubo Channel towards Lake Victoria

Abstract

In Uganda, most people show little regard for the environment resulting people to use non biodegradable plastic materials which are usually poorly disposed off. The overall objective for the study was to assess the quantity of plastic wastes transported by Nakivubo channel towards Lake Victoria. Data was collected from the areas near the channel that is Bugolobi, Owino market, and industrial area among others using one on interviews, observation and finally using weighing scale to get the weight of the plastic wastes trapped in the channel. Results indicated that the sources of plastic wastes are the economic activities carried out along Nakivubo channel that is industrialisation and trading activities plus the residents in the nearby areas who dispose of plastic wastes in the channel. There were more plastic wastes trapped during the rainy season about 520kg than in the dry season about 99kg. KCCA suggested creating more awareness to the people about the impacts of plastic wastes to the water flowing towards Lake Victoria via Nakivubo channel, contracting more companies to do plastic waste collection, sensitization of people that plastic wastes are resources that can be used in production of other materials and establishing more recycling companies for plastic wastes.