Solid waste management in Nairobi Metropolis
Abstract
Rapid urbanization and industrial development have been
a dominant feature in population growth in Nairobi. The
population in 1985 was 1.2 million and it is estimated that
it will be 2.5 million in the year 2000 (Central Bureau of
Statistics (CBS». Solid waste generated in Nairobi is
increasing in quantity and variety as a result of increasing
population, rising standard of living and development in
technology.
The proper management of solid waste in Nairobi has been
neglected because of lack of technical and financial
resources, and failure to appreciate the potential
enviromental hazards resulting from poor solid waste
management.
This study was conducted to determine generation rates,
waste composition, type of storage containers, collection
equipment. disposal methods and the organisation set UP of
the cleansing department of the Nairobi City Commission
(NCC). The solid waste generated per day from domestic and
commercial areas in Nairobi is about 1000 tonnes and is
predominantly organic with a composition of 60 % food wastes,
20 % wdste paper and 20 % other various components.
Indiscriminate dumping of waste materials has been noted and
the official solid waste tip at Dandora is not operated
according to any of the generally accepted principles and
serious public health nuisances exist.
Citation
Thesis submitted to the Depdrtment of Civil Engineering University of Ndirobi. in partial fUlfilment of the requirement for the dWdrd of the degree of Mdster of Science (M.Sc.) in Environmental Health Engineering.Publisher
Environmental Health Engineering,University of Nairobi