Social economic impacts of open dumping disposal of municipal solid waste on community livelihoods

Abstract

Open dumping which involves disposing the waste in unlined pits or on open ground without any protective cover is an unsanitary and environmentally harmful method of disposing municipal solid waste (MSW) and has serious negative social, economic, and environmental impacts on residents, especially in poor neighborhoods. The study was done in Bigajuka wetland located in west division Hoima city during the month of June to September 2024. The general objective was to evaluate the social economic impacts of open dumping disposal of municipal solid waste on community livelihoods. The specific objectives were to identify the sources of municipal solid waste components found dumped in the wetland, establish reasons from municipal authorities for dumping the current solid waste components in the wetland, establish social challenges among different communities living along the wetland due to the different municipal solid waste components dumped into the wetland, and establish sustainable management practices for municipal solid waste components dumped in wetland. A pilot study was done to ensure validity and clarity of the questionnaire. A descriptive cross-sectional research design involved qualitative data gathering and analysis techniques then accompanied with interpretation to direct the reader’s attention to important values for comparisons. A total of 50 respondents were randomly sampled and data collected using questionnaires, interview guides and observation. It was found out that households, institutions including food markets, restaurants, schools, butchery, retailers and shops, health clinics and agriculture were the sources of municipal solid waste dumped in Bigajuka wetland. Municipal authorities dumped MSWs in wetlands due to lack of financial resources, enforcement and regulatory oversight from higher levels of government, technical know-how, the rapid population growth and lack proper facilities such as landfill sites and recycling plants. The dumped MSWs in the wetland caused bad smell due to decomposition, chokes rivers through excessive sediment deposition and causes foul smell to drinking water. Composting of the organic wastes, recycling of the plastics and metals, incineration, reusing the items such polythene and plastic containers and sanitary landfilling of the inorganic municipal solid waste components were the sustainable waste management practices implemented to reduce the impacts of open dumping disposal of municipal solid waste components in Bigajuka wetland in Hoima city.