Beyond Rhetoric into Determinants of Municipal Solid Waste Disposals in Ghana

Abstract

The objective of the study was to find out the determinants of poor solid waste disposal in Ghana using Sawaba as the study prefecture. The main data collection instrument used included questionnaires and interview as well as field observation. In all, a sample size of 148 was deemed appropriate for the study. Systematic sampling technique was used to select to recruit 148 respondents. Moreover, additional 2 key informants were selected purposively to take part in the study. The study revealed that though some residents are also contributing to the poor solid waste disposal situation in the area, the Assembly was identified to be responsible for the solid waste disposal situation. It was also revealed in this study that, inadequate solid waste disposal facilities and distance from collection points of some houses cause households solid waste to accumulate in gutters, drains, rear of houses and illegal dumps in the Sawaba community. It has been recommended that there should be procurement and supply of more refuse containers at well designated sanitary sites, provision of standard households’ waste bins at affordable cost for households’ solid waste generated and collected by the service providers on regular basis. It is further recommended that the Assembly should make effective use of the Polluter Pay Principle (PPP), to deter residents from indiscriminately disposing their solid waste at the banks of water channels, gutters, drains and rear of houses.

Keywords: Solid waste, determinants, residents.