Abstract
This study investigated the role of informal solid waste collection in the Ashaiman Municipality and its challenges. The study comes at the back of the increasing use of informal waste collection as a common means for disposing off waste for the urban poor and yet appears untapped by the authorities.
Using primarily qualitative research methods, the case study strategy was deployed, with interviews as the main tools for collecting data. The primary data was augmented with secondary data drawn from Municipal Assembly documents, books, reports and other scholarly publications. The study found that, the informal waste collection systems have become predominant in the Municipality. For most people, they serve as a useful alternative to augment waste collection by formal companies. In spite of their prevalence however, authorities have not integrated these collectors into their Solid Waste Management (SWM) architecture. Others challenges are stigma from the community and lack of resources both financial and technical. To help improve the effectiveness of informal waste collection activities, it is recommended that city managers recognize and integrate informal solid waste collectors into their SWM architecture. This will not only help them acquire capital to procure the necessary tools and equipment, but also improve their image in the eyes of the community. The proper integration of the sector into the existing solid waste management policies can lead to sustainable management practices and possibly help alleviate poverty.
CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction and Background
Solid waste management (SWM) has been an important developmental issue over the years (Boateng et al., 2016). In recent years, the issue has intensified due to population and industrial growth, which have increased the volume of solid waste generated, particularly in the cities. Currently, about 1.3 billion tons of solid waste is generated in the world’s cities annually; a figure that is projected to increase to 2.2 billion tones by 2025 (Suleman et al., 2018).
The increasing solid waste and its management present both economic, social and health challenges for city managers across the globe. It has become a daunting task for local and central authorities, throwing up several challenges. The challenges range from lack of capability and logistics to deal with the escalating waste situation (Ma &Hipel 2016); the lack of necessary resources to shoulder the burden of providing services. Nyenje, (2011), and the lack of cooperation and support from the citizenry in managing solid Waste. These problems are even more profound in developing countries where lack of resources is a major challenge in dealing with solid Waste. Kretchy et al., (2019), indicates that city authorities in developing countries are unable to collect even half of the wastes generated, most of the urban slums do not have access to waste disposal facilities.
In Ghana, SWM has been a major challenge haunting city authorities over the years. Saidou&Aminou, (2015), indicate that SWM poses a lot of economic and health challenges for various assemblies, but is more profound in the urban areas. For instance, is has been established that, the haulage of solid waste and upkeep of dumping sites in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly of Ghana (largest city) costs approximately 799,070 US dollars every month, and that city authorities use about 91 per cent of their annual budget on managing solid waste management alone (Oteng-Ababio et al., 2013). Sekyere Boateng et al., (2018), indicates that most municipalities lack efficient collection techniques and as a result, not all of the waste generated is collected. The situation is complicated by the increasing dumpsites and abandoned wastes deposited on the city streets and open places in residential areas. This uncollected waste piles up and becomes a breeding ground for disease carrying organisms causing diseases such as cholera and malaria. Ahenkan et al., (2008) had earlier noted that close to 75 per cent of diseases that takes people to the hospital in Ghana are traceable to unpleasant environmental health and sanitation as well as inefficient solid waste management. 4,000tons of solid waste is generated daily, waste management departments still grapple with the collection of this huge amount of solid waste.
Problem Statement
SWM is one of the topical environmental issues in Ghana. Like other developing countries, the country has challenges in managing its solid waste and this has attracted a lot of scholarly attention over the years (Alhassan& Asante 2017). Specific issues that have been focused on by scholars include, the rising volumes of E-waste in Ghana (Oteng-Ababio 2010); recycling of solid waste as a means of addressing solid waste challenges (Ofori-Boateng, Lee & Mensah
2013); and the involvement of private actors in SWM (Boadi&Kuitunen 2005). In the discussions on the involvement of private actors however, attention has been concentrated on formal private sector waste collection actors like Zoom lion, Jekora Company, J. Stanley etc. and how they partner sub- national governments to manage waste in Ghana (Samine et al., 2017). Such studies have enhanced understanding of SWM in Ghana and the challenges involved.
However, a relatively new phenomenon in waste collection in Ghana is the use of informal waste collection systems, particularly the use of truck pushers and motor tricycles. This is common in the low income areas and according to Kretchy et al., (2019), close to 30% of waste collection in these areas is handled by such private self-employed and local community-based informal actors. Indeed, in Ghana, anecdotal evidence does not only underscore the prevalence of these informal actors particularly in low income areas, but also a preference for them due to low fees charged and reliability in their services. Oteng Ababio et al (2013), highlight the importance of recognizing the innovations of informal waste pickers and legitimizing them with the formal system In spite of their intensive participation in the waste collection process however, not much work has been done to understand the extent of their involvement; the coordination between them and the formal actors and how these collaborations contribute to SWM in the municipality. This fits into the observation by Chong et al., (2016, pg. 16), that there a lack of empirical studies on the involvement of other stakeholders in SWM in developing countries. This study therefore examines the participation of the informal actors in SWM in the Ashaiman Municipality and the challenges involved. This will not only broaden understanding of the general SWM in Ghana, but also highlight the challenges that these informal waste collectors face in their activities.
Research Objectives
Generally, the study examines the involvement of the informal actors in SWM in the Ashaiman municipality and the challenges involved. The specific objectives are
- To determine the extent to which informal waste collection systems prevails in the Ashaiman Municipality.
- To investigate the areas of collaboration between informal waste actors and formal waste collectors in the Ashaiman municipality.
- To assess the effectiveness of informal waste collection in SWM the Ashaiman Municipality.
- To identify the challenges of informal SWM in Ashaiman Municipality and explore ways of addressing them.
Research Questions
- How prevalent are the informal waste collection systems in SWM in the Ashaiman Municipality?
- In what ways do the informal actors collaborate with the formal waste collectors?
- How has the involvement of informal actors helped in managing solid waste in the Ashaiman municipality?
- What are the challenges in SWM in the Ashaiman Municipality and how can they be addressed?
Significance of the Study
SWM is of major concern to individuals, the state and society in general. This is because of the implications it has on their lives and health of people. Therefore a study into SWM is important in a number of ways.
In terms of the literature, the study generates an additional insight that helps to broaden understanding on the role of the informal waste collection systems in developing countries like Ghana.
The study also generates strategies for streamlining the activities of informal waste collectors into the Assemblies’ policy framework. In this regard, the study is relevant for policy because informal waste collection has become vital and indispensable and therefore the only option for city authorities is to develop effective policies to integrate them into the sector. This study has useful information to help in this regard. In terms of practice, the study offers city mangers important lessons on how to manage solid waste management in their respective areas of operation.
Chapter Disposition
The study is organized into five chapters. Chapter one is the introductory section and it provides a background to the study. In this chapter, the key issues which make up the research problem are stated. The issues are later expressed as research objectives and questions to guide the study. The second chapter reviews relevant literature as a means of identifying the areas that have not been addressed by scholars. The chapter also discusses the principal agent theory to provide a theoretical underpinning to the study. Chapter three presents the research methodology that is followed in the research process. It discusses the research approach, design, and population, sampling methods, data collection tools, data management and analysis techniques. Chapter four
presents the findings and analysis. The chapter synthesizes the data collected with the reviewed literature and the principal agent theory to see whether it confirms or disconfirms them. The final chapter, chapter five concludes the study and on the basis recommendations. Issues of further research are also identified in this chapter.
