Ghanaian inclination towards household waste segregation for sustainable waste management

Abstract

Global sustainable development goals call for universal access to safely manage sanitation by 2030. Municipal solid waste separation and management is critical in Ghana as in other developing nations, yet Ghana generates about 12,710 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day, and the byelaws regarding waste management are seldom enforced. This paper investigated the willingness of Ghanaians to separate household solid waste for proper sustainable waste management. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire through an online survey for 30 days in June 2021 and responses from 1406 participants were analysed using SPSS v.26. The study found 92.2% of respondents (irrespective of educational status and dwelling unit type) agreeing to the assertion that existing waste separation and management practices contribute to environmental pollution. It also found that effort by authorities to manage waste was unsatisfactory. Further, 61% and 18% of respondents use refuse bins and plastic/polythene bags to temporarily store waste respectively while the rest used inappropriate storage receptacles. Only 41.8% of generated waste are collected and managed by waste management companies or through paid laborers yet some 65.3% preferred a door-to-door collection system. About 90.5% of respondents agreed that recycling household waste will drastically reduce pollution, 67.4% were aware of waste segregation and 72.1% were in favour of segregation if it was a requirement. Interestingly, the study established that educational status does not influence one's awareness of waste segregation (p-value =0.759), yet the educated class know that household waste can be recycled into other uses to reduce pollution (p-values (0.03, 0.025); Pearson R=6.99, 7.415). The study recommends awareness creation through public education and the provision of multiple waste bins to aid in waste separation