Abstract

Generally, cities in the developing world faced challenges in solid waste management and the situation in Buea, Cameroon is not different. Proper planning of waste management from generation to disposal will therefore help to reduce the effects on household in the future. The main objective of this study is to assess the practices, problems and prospect of municipal solid waste management in Buea municipality.

Specifically, the study sought to determine the efficiency of waste management in the Buea municipality, to investigate the relationship between household solid waste management and wellbeing of inhabitant and to examine the extent to which solid waste on household wellbeing.

The research design for this study was the survey research design. In order to achieved these objectives, a sample of 60 householders were sampled through a convenient sampling techniques using a structured questionnaire.

Collected data were analysed using SPSS (21.0) where descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage distribution of variables and inferential statistics such a regression model test. The study findings revealed that solid waste was poorly managed in the Buea Municipality as many of the streets were dirty and unhygienic.

Household illegally dispose waste on streets and government policies towards waste manage were generally not good. The study further revealed that household wellbeing was generally affected as a results of this poor solid waste management as most residents suffered from diseases such as malaria, and poor breathing conditions in some streets.

Regression test revealed that solid waste management has a significant effect on household wellbeing in the Buea Municipality. It was concluded that, solid waste management practices have a direct impact on the household wellbeing in the Buea Municipality. Thus the study recommended that educational training programmes should be set up to train and engaged all stakeholders involved in the waste management in the municipality on the dangers of poor solid waste management.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background to the Study

Management of waste is a demanding and challenging undertaking in all African countries with important implication for human health and wellbeing, environmental preservation sustainability and economy. Management of solid waste is an enormous challenge in developing countries all over the world due to factors like poverty, population explosion, and urbanization.

The management is also ineffective and underfunded by the government. WHO and many other agencies worldwide have addressed the health implications of waste in the past (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2007). Senkoro (2003) argued that waste management is the second most pressing matter after the problem of inadequate water quality within all developing nations.

The rapid urbanization in Cameroon uncontrolled and unplanned has brought a serious environmental degradation. One of its most pressing is the management of solid, liquid, and hazardous waste. A visit to any city in Cameroon will be evidence of this situation where litter lays besides the roads, streams blocked with junk and toxic waste polluting the environment and threatening human health. A total of 80% of all diseases spread within a community are believed to be connected to poor waste management (Public Health Office 2012).

Human activities generate waste which can be harmful to the environment, animals, plants and ecosystem. However, only a careful management can limit the damage done to the environment conserve scarce resources (Powell, 2001). SWM is an important facet of sustainable development for any country and global initiative support the prioritizing of SWM. Global effort to maintain the quality of the earth’s environment is linked to sustainable development and is now propounded by government as well as international organization.

For instance, a clean environment and effective waste management systems was one of the UN Millennium Development Goals MDGs. This recommendation, (on like in Agenda 21) MDGs indirectly advocate sustainable SWM within the frame work of the ‘seventh goal’ which addresses environmental sustainability. The aim is to foster the integration of the principles of sustainable development (SD) into each country’s development policies and programs (UNDP, 2007).

The fundamental environmental issue in industrial and developing countries throughout the world over waste is the identification and management waste streams (Twardowska, 2004). As urbanization continues to take place, the management of solid waste becomes a major challenge posting major public health and environmental problems tor countries. As a result, development must be sustainable, in the sense of reducing the ecological footprint while simultaneously improving the quality of life – for ours and future generations – within the capacity limits of the globe (Lundstrom, 2007).

The characteristics and quantity of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) arising from domestic, commercial, and industrial activities is not only the result of growing population, rising standards of living and technological development, but due to the abundance and type of the natural resources from the country of community (Dongqing et al., 2010). These limitations are attributed to immaturity in terms of expertise in developing appropriate models and effective legal framework for MSWM as a result, the citizens and the community depends on the municipal authority for solid waste collection and disposal (Puentes, 2004).

Consequently, looking at the problems and challenges that have plagued municipal authority in carrying out their duties is pertinent because it will help to design possible solutions; such a prospect will facilitate the task of the municipal authorities by guiding their decision making process, practice and help encourage research on sustainable ways to address this growing problem. According to Pearce, (1994) developing countries face several major problems as a result of solid waste management and has classifies thus:

–           Health hazards from uncollected waste

–           Health hazard from collected but poorly disposed waste

–           Economic burden of waste disposal on towns and cities.

According to Flinoff, (1984), the total population of developing countries accounts for more than 70% of the world’s population. Waste management in these countries is of grave concern from two points of view: firstly, the process of urbanization and population concentration that is inextricably linked to waste management issues is progressing at a pace that is much faster than was ever experienced by today’s industrialized countries.

The issue of waste management in developing countries, therefore, has emerged as a critical and impending disaster. Secondly, these countries often have difficulty in streamlining the institutional systems, administrative bodies, management capabilities and human resources that are needed to take the lead in solving solid waste problems, it is thus difficult for them to respond effectively to the emerging challenges of SWM.

In Cameroon waste management is practiced, the study of Manga et al (2007) indicated that solid waste management services are rudimentary. The practice is primarily concerned with the collection and dumping of waste without proper management methods. This form of management is due to factors such as inadequate financial resources, low levels law enforcement as well as poor governance and lack of human resources.

Moreover, current regulations do not adequately address waste handling or disposal, inefficient implementation of waste management policies and documentation is affected by a duplication of functions and responsibilities between several government agencies and local councils (Manga et al 2007). Literature is generally lacking on solid waste management (SWM). In this regard, waste management in Buea is inefficient in hazard minimization because sustained efforts have not been develop in the domain of waste education, transportation, treatment and final disposal.

The sustainable management of (SWM) system is essential in order to minimize environmental and public health risks worldwide Manga et al (2007). Waste management could be efficient through the involvement of all stakeholders that is; waste generators, waste processors, formal and sectors, financial institutions, and private institutions such as nongovernmental and community base organizations (Manga et al., 2007).

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Public planning in the area of solid waste management is an extremely complex subject especially when dealing with planning collection, routes, sitting processing facilities, as well as choosing locations for landfills once they are full. Such challenges and the impact of waste disposal on environment have led to search for sustainable solutions in waste management in both developing countries.

The disposal and burning of domestic waste can cause profound strain on the environment, contamination of ground water resources, organic and inorganic pollution of nearby surface, water and carbon dioxide released from landfills as the main disposal side.

Economic and population growth, urbanization and industrialization as well as commercialization is responsible for the challenges that and the local government councils face in their effort to organize a sustainable waste management.

In 2006 the global amount of municipal solid waste generated reach 2.02 billion tones representing a 7% annual increase since 2003 (global waste management market report 2007). Waste management is an exercise that has move from manual to scientific operations, such include when planning collection routes, sitting processing facilities, as well as choosing locations for landfills and planning what will become of landfills once it is full.

As many waste managers will attest, planning routes for garbage, yard waste and recycling collection routes, including the number of stops, fuel efficiency of collection vehicles, as well as measuring each load of garbage into the trucks.

To effect, efforts have been made to enhance solid waste management from urban agglomerations like the HYSACAM in Buea, yet many problems persist and this is the focus of this study. The generation of solid waste and disposal presents a unique problem in all most every country, and is evidenced by the impacts upon human’s health and environment when there is not properly managed.

On the other hand, if there are adequate financial resources, the solid waste management is enhanced. Many cities in the developing country cannot meet the need of solid waste management although investing large proportion of their budget. Yet still the service coverage is less than fifty percent of total area location.

As a result of ineffective of solid waste management risks to public health, societal well-being, on the contrary, solid waste in Buea is accumulated and poorly managed nevertheless, solid waste management has become an important issue in Buea. Piles of wastes are often found by the roads, rivers, and many other spaces in the city, and this is causing significant health and environmental problems.

The solid waste in Buea is not safely and reliably collected nor transported neither disposed off in a timely and effectively manner.  However, the main obstacle about managing waste in Buea is scarcity of skill and equipment for moving wastes; also wastes are abandoned in the city every day.

The existence of insufficient capacity in solid waste makes it impossible for waste collection. Yet, if these challenges are not removed, it becomes difficult to design appropriate solid waste management strategies. Then this could lead to poor various environmentally related diseases such as malaria, typhoid, cholera as has been seen the case in Buea.

This study therefore examine the way forward for the Buea council in matters of waste management in partnership with HYSACAM by asking the following questions

1.3. Research Questions

1. How efficient is waste management in the Buea municipality?
2. What relationship exist between household solid waste management and wellbeing of inhabitant?
3. To what extend does solid waste management affect household wellbeing?

1.4. The Objectives of the Study

The general objectives of this study are to assess the practices, problems and prospect of municipal solid waste management in Buea municipality.

1.4.1. The Specific Objectives

1. To determine the efficiency of waste management in the Buea municipality
2. To investigate the relationship between household solid waste management and wellbeing of inhabitant
3. To examine the extent to which solid waste on household wellbeing