Solid Waste Management

The world’s water resources are under increasing pressure due to poor solid waste management, intensive farming, increasing population, and political tensions. This situation is exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation.

Kabuyonjo on solid waste management

We believe everyone has the right to live and work in a clean environment. Because of poverty, many people have no option but to live in slums. So we’re working with some of the poorest communities to safely and securely improve their waste management and collection methods. This brings improvements to the health of the slum dwelling families and the creation of safer healthier places to live and work.

A deteriorating urban environment is the enemy of sustainable development. Protecting the environment is not an alternative to economic growth – it is a precondition of efficient economic development (UN 1992:25). Solid waste management is one of the major environmental problems facing city municipalities today.

Solid Waste Management in Uganda

In Kampala City, like other urban centers in Uganda, and in most other developing countries, this important service is based on the local government’s centralized collection, transportation and disposal strategy.

Currently this approach has proved to be inefficient due to the heavy financial requirements involved. There is an urgent need to provide for the safe disposal of the solid waste generated by urban residents and businesses. The increase in urban, economic and industrial activities, as well as the resultant population increase have led to an increase in the quantity of solid waste generated.

The alternative means to waste disposal need to be developed with population growth and economic development in mind. The state of solid waste management in Kampala needs immediate attention if the urban environment is to be saved from further deterioration.

How does poor solid waste management affect water and sanitation?

Poor disposal of human and household waste encourages vermin and insects to thrive, and water and food become contaminated. Water-related diseases cause the death of 3.5 million people every year, and many children die before the age of five from diseases caused by drinking dirty water and living in unsanitary conditions.

A lack of clean water and sanitation can mean that diseases spread, especially sickness and diarrhoea. This leads to children being absent from school and affects their ability to learn. And without education it is hard to break out of poverty.

The provision of safe water and sanitation facilities in schools creates a safe and healthy physical learning environment, benefiting both the education and health of school children. Educating school children on basic hygiene and sanitation is very important. Children are generally eager to learn as well as to copy each other and can instill and promote positive behavioural change in other children.

Children also have important roles in their household, carrying out many of the chores related to hygiene. They are in a good position to drive change in their families and communities.These children are also the parents of the future who will pass on the good hygiene practices that they have learned to their own children.

Investing in children school sanitation and hygiene education has many benefits for example:

Promotes effective learning.

Increases enrolment of girls.

Reduces incidences of disease and worm infections.

Promotes environmental cleanliness.