Knowledge, attitude and practices on waste management in selected secondary schools in Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi County

Abstract

The population of Nairobi has continued to increase from initial 8,000 people in 1901 to around 3.8 million people by 2015. The increased population has triggered a rise in student enrolnment which has subsequently led to constrained resources used for waste management in the schools. The overall objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude, and waste practices on waste management in selected secondary school students in Westland Sub-county, Nairobi, Kenya. Descriptive study design was deployed to study and analyze a study population comprising of six public and six private school‟s students in the Westlands Sub-county. Stratified cluster sampling method of sampling was used where (n) =3887 students in 12 secondary were interviewed. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was used in data analysis. From the findings, 61.4% of the respondents came from public schools while 38.6% of the respondents came from private schools and 17 of the respondents were enrolled in public schools while 27 respondents were enrolled in private schools from their former schools. Results indicated most waste in the schools was in the form of food left overs which was followed by pen, flower trimmings, pieces of clothes and fruit & vegetable peels, mostly produced plastics as inorganic waste, empty bottles used for drinks, bags and bookcases and filing cabinets. Attitude, knowledge, and practices were found to be key determinants of waste management in secondary schools in Westland Sub-county. The study concludes that the secondary schools in Westland Sub-county produces different types/ kinds of waste and as such there were waste practices associated with how waste was managed in the respective schools. Waste practices in existing secondary schools in Westlands Sub-county and such practices were an important determinant of waste was dealt with in schools. The researcher recommends that the school should come up with environmental topics in the curriculum, educate the public on the effects of environmental pollution, putting proper signage among others.