Assessment of community perception on Proper solid waste management at Household-level in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

Abstract

Effective solid waste management is integral to environmental sustainability and public health. The success of waste management initiatives is intricately linked to community perceptions, as their awareness and attitudes significantly influence outcomes. This study, conducted in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania, aimed to assess the community's perception of proper solid waste management at the household level. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional design, data were gathered from 70 respondents across three randomly chosen wards: Mazimbu (26), Mji Mkuu (22), and Mji Mpya (22). These wards were pivotal in capturing a comprehensive view of solid waste management practices, accounting for variations across different areas within Morogoro Municipality. Data were also collected from five key informants using the Kobo Collect survey tool. Inferential statistics, specifically Pearson chi-square tests, were applied to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to explore the types of solid waste generated at the household level. The findings revealed that 38.6% of respondents produced vegetable waste, 28.6% generated leaves/grass, 20% produced plastic waste, and 12.9% generated other types of solid waste. The chi-square tests showed no significant differences in community awareness regarding the importance of proper solid waste management across wards, except for a significant difference in relation to disease outbreak reduction. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the community's perception of obstacles hindering proper solid waste management. To evaluate the community's perception of solid waste management, a composite mean score was calculated; a mean score above 2.00 indicated a positive perception, while a score below 2.00 suggested a negative perception. In conclusion, while the community generally holds a positive perception of solid waste management, factors such as collection fees and inadequate infrastructure hinder its effectiveness and efficiency at the household level. It is recommended that municipal authorities enhance solid waste management strategies and implement educational campaigns to raise awareness within the community.