Abstract
BackgroundSolid waste management is both an urban and rural problem because every person is considered a producer of wastes. It has been noted to be a global universal issue, which affects every individual, families, communities and governments and thus, needs to be addressed through sustainable strategies. This study aimed at characterizing solid wastes; assessing the levels of awareness of vendors on the sustainable solid waste management measures; and identifying techniques used to handle solid waste generated at the Majengo market in Dodoma City, Tanzania.MethodsThe study adopted an exploratory descriptive case study, with a mixed research approaches with a minimum sample of 196 conviniently selected respondents. Semi-structured questionnaires developed by the researcher were the main data collection tools to characterize solid wastes, measure levels of awareness about sustainable solid waste management approaches (SWM) and identify solid waste handling techniques among vendors at the market. Quantitative and Qualitative data were analyzed by using the Statistical Product for Social Sciences version 23 and thematic analysis respectively.ResultsFindings showed that 55% of vendors were males. Majority of the sampled vendors (56%) were not aware of SWM. On the other hand, crops/food and animal product remains were reported to be the most generated solid wastes (94.4%) with the rate of > 2 tons/day equivalent to 72.4% of the overall solid waste generation at the market. SWM services were reported to be provided by City council (85.7%) with the main equipment/tool used to store solid wastes (SW) being containers without lids (88.3%). The dumpsite was the main site for SW disposal (80.1%). Nevertheless, 92.9% of the sampled vendors reported that SWM strategies were there at the market though not adhered to accordingly.ConclusionVendors were not aware of sustainable solid waste management measures existing at the market. However, vendors’ education levels and the duration of doing business at the market were related to their levels of awareness on SWM (p < 0.05). The SWM measures were found to exist at the market, however, they were not sustainable because it was reported that they were ineffectively and inefficiently used to control SW generation, collection, storage, and disposal. There is a need of regular awareness-raising activities about sustainable SWM measures among vendors. Moreover, city council and market authorities need to have sustainable and scheduled implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of SWM measures to maintain the management of solid wastes at Majengo market premises.
Highlights
Solid waste management is both an urban and rural problem because every person is considered a producer of wastes
The researcher of the current study was interested to assess the level of awareness of the vendors on solid waste management at Majengo Market in Dodoma city Tanzania
The findings showed that majority 56% (n = 110) of the study respondents were not aware about sustainanble solid waste management measures against a few 44% (n = 86) who were aware of it (Fig. 1)
Summary
Solid waste management is both an urban and rural problem because every person is considered a producer of wastes. Solid waste management has been noted to be a global universal issue, which affects every individual and government [2]. The remarkably progressive and rapid urbanization has overwhelmed the global, regional, national, and local authorities, of the developing countries to plan for it [1]. This has led to the constrain of quality and efficient institutional, and organizational structures that in turn affects the provision of various public services, and to plan for sustainable infrastructures in the favor of solid waste management and characterization [2]
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