Abstract:
This study examined the generation practices and barriers to solid waste management
in the Central Region of Ghana. The case study research design was adopted for the
study. Using the simple random sampling procedure, 425 respondents comprising of
380 residents and 45 Zoomlion staff were involved in the study. The data were
analysed through the computation of frequencies, percentages, as well as means and
standard deviations. The study found out that, rubbish, food waste, and trash were the
forms of solid wastes that were generated in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem
Municipality. Also, it was realized that, both residents and Zoomlion staff observed a
number of solid waste management practices. Again, there were a number of barriers
to the effective solid waste management practices. These included inadequate
environmental education; inadequate logistics and funds; inadequate depots, skips and
dustbins; and apathetic attitude/inertia on the part of some of the residents. The study
recommended that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Assembly
should ensure that, the various households provide separate bins to sort out the types
of solid waste (e.g. glass, paper, plastic, and rubber). Also, it is recommended that, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Assembly should organize
education/training programmes on solid waste management on the need to reduce,
reuse and recycle solid waste so that they can appreciate the need for sustainable
development practices. Again, the Assembly should conduct regular monitoring
system in order to ensure that residents adhere to the solid waste management
practices. The Assembly should also make available a reliable data on
solid waste generation for households in the Municipality.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Social Studies,
Faculty of Social Sciences, Submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Social Studies)
in the University of Education, Winneba
JUNE, 2020