Solid Waste Management in Mbitni Division in Nzaui District Kenya

ABSTRACT A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted Mutyambua town council, Nzaui district - Kenya between 28th of May to June 18111 , 2008. The main objective was to determine solid waste management in Mutyambua town council Nzaui district. Specifically, the study objectives include; Identification of methods of solid waste management, to determine the level of awareness on dangers of improper solid waste management in the study area, and to find out the role of local town council management of solid wastes. The data was collected by the use of questionnaires (closed and open ended). From a sample size of n=80 who included both males and females of age range 20-60 years. More than half of the respondents (63.75%) knew crude damping as a method of refuse disposal and a few (3.75%) knew SLF. Most respondents use crude damping because it is cheap and time saving. Problems experienced with the use of crude damping include; destruction of plantations and bad smell on damping areas. All the respondents (100%) were aware of health problems associated with improper solid waste management. The health problems include; disease outbreak and harboring of rodents and pests. More than three quarters of respondents (90%) said the local council give assistance in the management of solid wastes. However, all the respondents said that solid waste management in the areas was inadequate.