Disposing off Solid Waste in Ghana: What are the Challenges and the Strategies? A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract

Developing country cities are still experiencing rapid population growth, so one element of an integrated solid waste disposal solution has to be how to tackle exponential growth in waste quantities. In this vein, the central objective of the study was to examine the challenges and strategies of solid waste disposal in Ghana. The main data collection instrument used included questionnaires and interview as well as field observation. The Systematic technique was used to sample 148 respondents whereas purposive sampling technique was used to select 2 key informants thus arriving at a sample size of 150. The findings from the study indicate that the challenges of solid waste disposal include insufficient solid waste collection containers, lack of cooperation from residents as well settlement pattern. Strategies such as education, provision of more waste containers and law enforcement were deemed appropriate to contain the challenges. Based on the findings, it is recommended that there should be integrated efforts among the various stakeholders responsible for waste disposal, health and the environment. This is to ensure an effective monitoring system and enforcement of by- laws regulating solid waste disposal in the Municipal. This process requires the full participation of residents and opinion leaders in the community to make it effective. Especially private men and women who use their plots within the neighbourhood as public dump sites.

Keywords: Solid waste, strategies, challenges.