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     Current Research Journal of Social Sciences

    Abstract
2015(Vol.7, Issue:3)
Article Information:

Solid Waste Management and Its Health Implications on the Dwellers of Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

I.B. Addo, D. Adei and E.O. Acheampong
Corresponding Author:  D. Adei 
Submitted: ‎July ‎24, ‎2014
Accepted: ‎September ‎13, ‎2014
Published: July 25, 2015
Abstract:
Human activities create wastes. Whether wastes would pose risks to the environment and to public health depend on how they are handled, stored, collected and disposed off. The research sought to identify the approaches adopted by households to dispose off wastes; the perception of households on public health in relation to nearness to dumpsites; health related activities organized and challenges of managing wastes. Duase, Ohwim and Oti-Dompoase, all in Kumasi metropolis were studied to understand these issues. A total of 256 households were systematically sampled from 3,364 households at a 95% confidence level. It was found that 44.9% of the household respondents disposed off their wastes at the dumpsites within their respective residential areas; 26.9% at the central collection skip containers provided by KMA; 17.2%, in pits at their backyards; and 10.9% by burning. ZoomLion Ghana Ltd, ABC Waste Group, Meskworld Co. Ltd and Kumasi Waste Management Limited were responsible for managing waste within the study areas. Their operations however seem not satisfactory by the respondents. About 41.4% of the household respondents complained of the stench of the dumpsites which some of them even attributed it to the cause of numerous diseases in the communities such as catarrh, cough and chest pains. Diarrhea, intestinal worms, typhoid fever and cancer were perceived as diseases resulting from the wastes at the dumpsites. About 41.4% cited stench of the dumpsites to justify this claim while others link the poor management of waste to the causes of numerous diseases (catarrh, cough and chest pains, diarrhea, intestinal worms, typhoid fever and cancer) prevalent in the communities. The operations of the waste management companies were however found to be challenged by inadequate trucks and equipment, high operating cost, limited land availability for sanitary landfill and inadequate funding. Community participation in sanitation improvement programmes, separation of solid wastes at collection points, recycling of solid wastes and sensitization on how to dispose off waste and how to prevent waste related diseases have been recommended.

Key words:  Dumpsite, households, solid waste, waste management, , ,
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Cite this Reference:
I.B. Addo, D. Adei and E.O. Acheampong, . Solid Waste Management and Its Health Implications on the Dwellers of Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. Current Research Journal of Social Sciences, (3): 81-93.
ISSN (Online):  2041-3246
ISSN (Print):   2041-3238
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