Assessing the Challenges Affecting Solid Waste Management System in the Kumasi Metropolis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v3i2.323Keywords:
Waste, Solid Waste, Solid Waste Management, Kumasi Metropolis, Waste Generation, challenges of solid waste managementAbstract
ABSTRACTIn every aspect of human life, several unwanted materials are generated and these materials are discarded simply because they are considered waste. Waste is a serious problem in developing countries where generation of waste per unit of output is much higher than that in the developed countries because of inefficiency in manufacturing processes, bad design, and ultimately, bad decision-making. The purposes of this paper were to identify the challenges facing solid waste management in Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and its effects on solid waste management practices. This research is both exploratory and causal. Out of a total population of 350 a sample size of 200 was used. Self-Administered Questionnaire instrument was used to collection data for the study. Quantitative data analysis technique (such as mean, percentages, frequencies and standard deviation) and qualitative data analysis technique (such as content analysis) were used to analyse the collected data. It was found out that, all the challenges facing solid waste management practices only institutional arrangement and adequate solid waste management laws were found not to be major challenges. The rest are all major challenges facing solid waste management practices in the KMA. On the effects, seemingly, the effect of the challenges to waste management practices leads to inefficiency in the solid waste management practices. The correlation coefficient between them is 0.51 and correlation of determination is 0.26 0r 26% meaning the higher the challenges, the higher the inefficiency in the waste management system. However, this relationship seems moderate since 74% of the inefficiencies are accounted for by other factors than those identified in this study. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that, the management must put measures in place to overcome the challenges facing solid waste management practices.
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