INADEQUECIES OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATIONS IN KASARANI CONSTITUENCY, NAIROBI COUNTY WANG’OMBE S. MUTHONI N/36/2769/2010 A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment for the Degree of Bachelor of Environmental Planning and Management of Kenyatta University © June 2014 1 DECLARATION This research project is my original work and has not been presented in whole or part for the award of a degree in this or any other university. Signature............................................ Date....................................... Wang’ombe Sarah Muthoni N36/2769/2010 This project work has been submitted for examination with my approval as the University supervisor Signature........................................... Date............................................. Dr. Sammy Letema 2 ABSTRACT Most of our activities as human beings generate solid waste. As much as the solid waste that is generated may not be harmful in its current state, the methods through which this waste is handled, stored, collected and disposed can pose risks to the local populace as well as the community. The situation is aggravated by the fact that solid waste has no owner, and therefore the provision of quality solid waste management services is left for those who can afford it. The objectives of this study was to study the amount and composition of waste handled by waste management service providers, their equipment and personnel capacity, how this capacity affects their performance and identify opportunities available to increase their capacity thus render better services. The data was gathered mainly through the use of questionnaires, interviews and observation. The results gotten from the research revealed that the capacity of the various service providers is wanting both in terms of personnel and equipment. There is therefore a need for the government to implement plans and proposals in place, meant to build the capacity of all the key players so as to step up efficiency in waste management. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to appreciate my supervisor, Dr. Letema for being a resourceful guide and teacher and for being exceedingly patient with my shortcomings. I would also like to thank Mr. Elias Otieno (Big Five), Mr. Gabriel Mucheru (Glucolar) and Mr. Timothy (Zimmerman Youth) , all of who were priceless sources of information. Last but not least, I would like to thank the CGN through their department of Environmental Planning and Management, for providing documents without which, this study would have been incomplete. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS INADEQUECIES OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATIONS IN KASARANI CONSTITUENCY, NAIROBI COUNTY ..................................................................................................................... 1 ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................................ 10 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Background to the Problem ................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Problem Statement .............................................................................................................. 11 1.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 12 1.4 Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 12 1.5 Research Premises ............................................................................................................... 12 1.6 Significance of Study ..................................................................................................... 13 1.7 Justification .................................................................................................................... 13 1.8 Scope and Delimitation ....................................................................................................... 13 1.9 Operational Terms. .............................................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................ 14 LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Urbanisation and Waste Management................................................................................. 14 2.1.1 Global perspective ........................................................................................................ 14 2.1.2 Nairobi .......................................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Waste management chain .................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Characteristics of Waste .................................................................................................. 17 2.4 Waste Management Approaches ......................................................................................... 18 2.5 Solid Waste Regulations .................................................................................................. 19 2.5.1 International Conventions and Protocols ...................................................................... 19 2.5.2 Kenya ............................................................................................................................ 21 2.6 Conceptual Framework .................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 24 AREA OF STUDY ...................................................................................................................... 24 3.1 Location and Extent ....................................................................................................... 24 3.2 Administrative Areas........................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Socio-Economic Profile ...................................................................................................... 25 5 3.4 Climate ................................................................................................................................ 25 3.5 Drainage .............................................................................................................................. 26 3.6 Soils ..................................................................................................................................... 26 3.7 Wildlife................................................................................................................................ 27 CHAPTER 4 ................................................................................................................................ 28 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 28 4.1 Research Design .................................................................................................................. 28 4.2 Sampling Frame and Size .................................................................................................... 28 4.3 Types and Sources of Data .................................................................................................. 29 4.4 Data Collection Techniques ................................................................................................ 29 4.5 Data Analysis and Presentation ........................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................ 31 DATA ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................................... 31 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Quantity and composition of waste handled by CBOs, private contractors and the CGN . 31 5.2.1 Composition.................................................................................................................. 31 5.2.2 Quantity of waste handled ............................................................................................ 32 5.3 Equipment availability ........................................................................................................ 33 5.3.1 Storage Equipment ....................................................................................................... 33 5.3.2 Transportation equipment ............................................................................................. 34 5.4 Personnel ............................................................................................................................. 36 5.5 Collection System ..............................................................................................................