A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of Masters of Science in Environmental Management (MSc EM) of Mzumbe University
Achieving full and effective community participation in development activities is a hard task. However, it has been a key element to project development and sustainability. The inability of municipalities to handle the increasing amount of waste generated is a growing problem in many African cities. This study conducted in KigomaUjiji Municipality 2013, attempts to address the problem of solid waste management by looking at community participation on waste management issues. Solid waste in Kigoma Ujiji Municipality mostly are generated during the extraction of raw materials, processing of raw materials into intermediate and final products, consumption of final products, and other human activities such as agriculture, fishing, construction, demolition and carpentry.
Different methods of waste disposal for example, dumping and land fill leads to attraction of vermin example rats and mice which harbours diseases, dumping generate leachate which contaminate underground water, production of gas (carbon dioxide and methane) which produce unpleasant odor, green house gases and kills surface vegetation. Plastic bags when thrown in the farm reduces filtration of water into the soil, leading to low fertility of soil and low agricultural production also harbor mosquitoes and other pathogenic organisms. Eruption of diseases such as malaria, typhoid, and cholera can occur, especially when the plastic bags obstructed sewage system. Plastic bags lose attraction of the area. Burning of waste material and dust from industries can cause respiratory problems and air pollution to people and all these problems can lead to climatic change/global warming.
This study recommended best ways which can make the environment clean. People have to pay for collection and transportation of solid waste, the community has to change attitude and culture. In doing so, one day we would have a clean Municipality.