| dc.description.abstract | Many scholars and organisations have studied waste management problems by focusing on urban areas. These studies have however identified environmental problems associated with waste management by focusing on total waste without considering individual contributors of the waste. The broad objective of the study was to examine solid waste management practices in public technical training institutions in Kenya. The specific objectives included quantification of various components of solid waste generated and evaluation of management and attitudes of those responsible for generation of the waste. This study evaluated the waste management practices of Public Technical Training Institutions as contributors of the total waste within the areas where they are located.
To collect data on generation, collection, disposal and the attitude of the generators and mangers; a representative sample of twenty nine (29) institutions was selected and information sought through questionnaires and structured interviews with selected persons who included heads of institutions, students and workers. The amounts of waste generated at the institutions were determined through measurement by weighing the waste at the institutions for three consecutive days and the daily averages were used to determine the weekly quantities. Regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between amount of waste generated and population of the institution and also the cost of Solid Waste Management at the institution.
In a week, public technical training institutions generate about 23 tons of waste composed of mainly vegetable and food remains (82%). Other waste includes plastics, papers, ash, metals and glass. Collection of wastes from the points they are generated is either done by workers employed by the respective institutions, a contracted private company and students. Seventy seven percent (77%) of the institutions use workers to collect the waste, 3% use contracted company, 10% use both workers and contracted company while another 10% of the institutions use both students and workers. Disposal of solid waste in technical training institutions is mainly through dumping in rubbish pits. The cost of waste management in the institutions is dependent on both the waste generated and the institutional population.
The cost ranged from KShs 0.13 to 0.59/week/per student and per capita waste generation ranged from 0.28Kg/week/student to 0.71Kg/week/student In order for the institutions to effectively manage the solid waste, boards of management should incorporate waste management in their institutional planning. This can be achieved by ensuring that collection and disposal is carried out on a planned basis and allocating adequate human and financial resources. This study is of benefit to mankind as it can be used to design proper solid waste management systems in institutions and also provide the basis for setting up policies for Solid Waste Management | en_US |
