Solid Waste Managementmethods and Their Effects on the Environment in Uganda; A case Study of Hoima Municipal Council

Abstract

The rapid population growth and urbanization in developing countries as Uganda constitute a threat to the Environment. The urbanization, result in more waste and concurrently the development result in New Life Patterns, Standard of living and attitudes change the waste composition to include more and more hazardous waste which calls for various solid waste management methods. Along with the development comes the problems with solid waste management and the situation in Hoima Municipality is at the moment precarious. The environmental problem caused by improper solid waste management in the expanding municipalities like Hoima is one of the urgent issues. The study was about analyzing solid waste management methods and their effects on the environment in Uganda a case study of Hoima Municipality.

The theoretical underpinnings of the study were premised on life cycle analysis theory. The objectives of the study included; evaluating the effects of existing waste management methods and Determining appropriate methods. The study was carried out in Hoima Municipality Hoima District. The study employed both Qualitative and quantitative techniques in date collection. In addition, the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and relational statistics in form of Pearson’s product correlation.

The finings revealed the existing solid waste management methods as open burning, composting, land filling, incineration and indiscriminate dumping. The findings revealed the dangers associated with using such methods as Air Pollution, leachet formation, release of dangerous gases and unsightly sites.

The study therefore concludes that there is a weak but significant relationship between solid waste management methods and their effects on the environment.

The study recommends that Hoima municipal council should emphasis on composting of biodegradable wastes while the in organic wastes be recycled or reused, further the study recommends disposal of wastes to be undertaken in a scientific manner and encourage environmental impact assessments be done for the various waste management methods.

The study suggests areas for further research such as participation of central Government in waste management and possible methods of decomposing solid wastes to make organic manure for urban agriculture.