MINISTRY OF GENERAL EDUCATION

KCM NCHANGA SECONDARY TRUST SCHOOL

GEOGRAPHY FIELD REPORT-2023

A CASE STUDY ON NON-BIODEGRADABLE WASTE IN CHINGOLA DISTRICT

(Riverside Township).

NAME: Nchimunya Alex Basila

EXAM NUMBER: 190502140065

CENTRE NUMBER: 5378

GRADE: 12 (twelve)

YEAR: 2024

SCHOOL: KCM Nchanga Secondary Trust School (Pvt)

SUPERVISOR: Mr. Bernard Chibwe

DUE DATE: 1st JULY, 2024.

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  DECLARTION

I, NCHIMUNYA A. BASILA, holder of exam number 190502140065 and student at KCM

Nchanga Secondary Trust School declare that this geography field report data is a genuine
product of my own work and was produced by myself.

STUDENT: SIGN: DATE:

…………………………. ………………. ……………..

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  APPROVAL

This field report completed by Nchimunya Alex Basila has been approved as a partial
fulfillment to the completion of the Senior Secondary Geography Subject Course (2218).

The above-mentioned pupil is a student at KCM Nchanga Secondary Trust School (Pvt) and
completed his project within the allotted time, under my supervision.

SUPERVISOR: SIGN: DATE:

…………….…… ....…………….. ……………..

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  DEDICATION

I dedicate this research to my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ for enabling me to be alive to
publish my first serious research project. I pray that this may be the first of many to come, and
thank Him for this wonderful opportunity.

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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to start by acknowledging the ever-sufficient power of Jehovah God Almighty
whose steady hands have guided me until the completion of this research. I would also like to
express my thanks to my exceptional parents whose guidance and support has seen this project
through. My heartfelt thanks go to Mr. Bernard Chibwe and our geography intake who have
pushed me past my limits and made me enjoy geography as a science.

I conclude by thanking my siblings: David, Evelyn, Chipo, Mwila and Loveness for their
support; and to my course mates and friends Temwani, Bwalya and Valency without whose
positive energy and creative input this project would not exist today and would not have borne
any fruit.

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  ABSTRACT

In addition to other non-biodegradable materials such as metals and glass, plastics have begun to
accumulate as a result of their slow process of natural decomposition. This has turned the once
useful plastics into mere waste products in the environment.

The existence of excess amounts non-biodegradable waste in the town of Chingola and the world
at large can be traced to many origins and is caused by various reasons. This case study is aimed
at investigating the rising occurrence of the waste, the reasons for its occurrence and possible
solutions to the problem.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE NO# COVER

PAGE……………………………………………………….……………….1.

DECLARATION……………………………………………………….......2.

APPROVAL…..………………………………………………………….....3.

DEDICATION…………………………………………..………………….4.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………..…………………..5.

ABSTRACT………………..…………………………...…………………. 6.

CHAPTER ONE:…………………………………………...………………….9.

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Aim
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Problem Statement
1.5 Limitations of the Study
1.6 Delimitations of the Study

CHAPTER TWO:……………………………….……………………………11.

2.0 Location of the Study Area

2.1 Description of the Study Area
2.2 Map of the Study Area

CHAPTER THREE:…………………………….……………………………12.

3.0 Research Methodology

3.1 Types of Data Collected
3.2 Methods used during Data Collection
3.3 Sampling Procedure

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 3.4 Target Population and Size
3.5 Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR:……………………………….……………………………14.

4.0 Research findings and observations

4.1 Summary of information from interviewed participants
4.2 Summary of information from the Chingola Municipal Council
correspondent.
4.3 Summary of waste disposal methods; encouraged and discouraged.

CHAPTER FIVE:………………………………..……………………………20.

5.0 Conclusion
5.1 Recommended solutions to problem
5.2 Conclusion of findings
5.3 References

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 CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background

The industrial revolution brought about a new era of technology in human history. As the years
flew by, there was need for cheaper and more affordable materials. Soon, the plastic was born in
1907. This non-biodegradable substance has proved its use in many fields such as industry,
medicine and manufacturing. Its versatility knows no limits.

It is estimated that about 10 to 15 percentage of the total industrial wastes are non-biodegradable
and hazardous, and the rate of increase in this category of waste is only increasing every year.
These wastes cannot be broken down easily and made less harmful.

1.2 Aim

This geography field report is aimed at analyzing, interpreting and discussing the prevalence of
non-biodegradable waste in Riverside township of Chingola District (the once “Cleanest town”)
and drawing a relationship between the knowledge of waste and its prevalence levels. Owing to
attempted accuracy at results, the research was conducted in the Riverside region of this town, as
the map dictates (see Location for map evidence).

1.3 Objectives

The objectives of this study have been listed briefly below:

 Analyzing the beliefs/thoughts about non-biodegradable waste from the members of the
community.
 Finding out the method(s) by which the waste is handled or processed in the locality.
 Stating any better methods of waste treatment besides the methods currently used.
 Finding out which institution(s) is/are responsible for managing the issue.
 Striking a possible connection between waste prevalence, knowledge of it possessed by
members of the catchment area and the mindset towards the environment held by members of
the catchment area.

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 1.3 Problem Statement

The main problems associated with this study are;

1.0 Ignorance on the part of civilians in the vicinity regarding the waste management, leading
to
2.0 A mindset lacking care for the environment, resulting in
3.0 Improper waste disposal practices.

These three main reasons, as well as other factors, negatively influence the disposal of non-
biodegradable waste in this community, causing other problems such as transmittable diseases,
as well as the breeding of mice, roaches and rats.

1.4 Limitations

One limitation faced during this field study are that it was conducted from only the Riverside
township and so results and findings apply more strongly to this area; that the field study
required face to face communication with the civilians of the community, meaning not everyone
in the entire township could be interviewed over the field study time duration and that not all of
the civilians were responsive to the interviews and questionnaires imposed.

Also, some residents expressed that they did not want to be quoted in any way for this research.

1.5 Delimitations

The catchment area was limited specifically to the Riverside Township, Chingola District. This
allowed for higher accuracy of results. (More emphasis is later shown in the inscribed map.)

Some, not all, of the respondents were convinced to be quoted during the research. The
remaining 4 still did not wish to be quoted, even anonymously.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Location of Study Area

3.1 Description of Study Area

The area under study, Riverside Township, in located in the suburbs of Chingola District, on the
Copperbelt Province of Zambia. It is bordered by Kabundi, Kapisha and Chingola Central
Townships. It is found It lies at the edge of the central business district. It is moderately
populated.

2.2 Map of the Study Area

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Its exact location is (12.5473⁰S, 27.8932⁰E).

CHAPTER THREE

4.0 Research Methodology

4.1 Types of Data

During the case study, two forms of data were processed into information: Primary and
Secondary Data. The primary data was sourced and cited from satellite map imaging sites data
and definition hubs from internet extracts. Secondary data was collected from person-to-person
interviews and observation.

4.2 Methods used during Data Collection

The secondary data findings were obtained using oral interviews and questionnaires.

4.3 Sampling Procedure

Mututubanya (2020), quoted Kasonde-Ngandu (2013) as defining a sampling procedure as the

process of selecting respondents, places and objects to participate in a given study. Participants
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were gotten using the simple random sample technique (Creswell & Plano, 2012), such that they
were residents of the catchment area but were personally unknown to me, the researcher. This
was done to ensure unbiassed data collection.

Their total number was used for quantitative analysis while their responses (written, recorded
or otherwise), opinions and amount of knowledge on the topic of waste disposal were all used for
qualitative analysis.

Other important personal information such as age, physical address and NRC and phone number
have been withheld from being published in this field report, for the sake of anonymity. An
exception to this is my correspondent, Mr. Phiri Nazareth, from the Public Health Dept. of the
Chingola Municipal Council, whose actual name will be referenced later in this report.

4.4 Target Population and Size

The targeted size for sampling of data was at minimum 6 females and 6 males from the
catchment area. This was to ensure unbiased result and gender balance. However, this goal was
not reached and the size sampled during the case study was 6 women and 5 men.

From the projected number of 12 people to be sampled as part of the field survey, only 11
participated.

Participants of Suvey 1 of 2
Interviewed Males vs Interviewed Females
Projected Females

*Interviewed Females

Projected Males

*Interviewed Males

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Series 3 Series 2 Series 1

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 4.5 Data Analysis

As stated earlier, the method of data collection used for qualitative secondary data was
questionnaires.

The interviewed participants were subjected to questions from the GEOGRAPHY (2218)
FIELD REPORT QUESTIONNAIRE No#1 carried out on 30th August, 2023. To ensure
convenience of time, qualitative responses were generally recorded and stored in audio format.
Short hand notes were also taken.

The interviewed correspondent, Mr. Nazareth Phiri, helpfully answered my questions from the
GEOGRAPHY (2218) FIELD REPORT QUESTIONNAIRE No#2 carried out on 8th March,
2024.

All responses from the participants and from my correspondent are summarized in the following
chapter.

CHAPTER FOUR

5.0 Research findings and Observations

5.1 Summary of information from interviewed participants

(Researched) Definition of Terms:

Waste:
Waste (or wastes) are unwanted or unusable materials.
i. Municipal Waste:
Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage in the United Staes and
rubbish in Britain is a waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public.
ii. Domestic Waste:
Domestic waste is waste that is generated as a result of the ordinary day-to-day use of a domestic
premise.

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 iii. Health care Waste:
Healthcare waste is all the waste generated by healthcare facilities, medical laboratories and
biomedical research facilities, as well as waste from minor and scattered sources.
Disposal:
The process of getting rid of something that is unwanted.
CBD:
Central Business District.
Waste Management:
Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions required to manage
waste from its inception to its final disposal.
Landfill:
A scientifically designed and constructed site where waste is disposed of systematically where
all emissions of gases, liquids and solid materials are controlled and not allowed to contaminate
the surrounding environment.
Dumpsite:
A non-scientifically designed and constructed site where waste is disposed of unsystematically,
and where gas emissions, liquid leakage and solids contamination of the environment is not
controlled or managed and where scavenging by waste pickers often takes place.
Franchise company:
A company contracted by a municipal council or citizens to collect and dispose of municipal
and domestic waste from different zones, for a subscription fee; such as Cop-Waste.
The participants of the first questionnaire of this field report gave their responses to the
questions posed in FIELD REPORT QUESTIONNAIRE No#1 carried out on 30th August,
2023.

Respondent #1 stated that his profession involves the general cleaning of the surrounding and
that he has worked in many parts of this town doing so. He noted that the problem of improper
waste disposal was most prominent in the highly populated Chiwempala Area. He further went
on to say that the problem of waste is experienced everywhere and that most people in this
specific locality usually throw glass bottles and plastics onto the roads and don’t usually clean
up afterwards.

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He went on to state that plastics fill up the water ways and that they cause diseases. He
concluded in saying that the plastics don’t decompose and that they deal best with them by
burning.

Respondent #2 started by saying that the number of plastics in this catchment area are less in
comparison to the Soweto area. She linked this to the reasoning that the residents here know
how to dispose of them and that the population density in this area is lower.
She concluded by saying that she tends to both burn and recycle her waste to get rid of it.

Respondent#3 believed that simply throwing away the plastics in pits is not feasible, that the
plastics simply collect over time and don’t break down. She went on to say that burning them
was the right approach as it gets rid of them and prevents diseases in the rain season. She
hasn’t made any attempt at referring this problem to the local authorities or the Municipal
Council.
She supported the idea of waste collection for the purpose of recycling, even though she
herself has no time to do so and that the quantity of plastic waste in this region is less than that
in other regions such as Soweto.

Respondent#4 was completely supportive of the burning of plastic waste. She is comfortable
with it and does not know where Franchise companies responsible for waste management are
found. She provided the rest of her response in writing.
She further went on to encourage me in the action of field study. She concluded her response
by saying that the prevalence of waste was increased by there being no public bins in the
common areas. She educatedly summarized that the problem is increased by lack of bins, the
level of population and the lack of discipline by the residents.

Respondent#5 agrees that plastic waste is a serious problem in the area, that it has been around
for a long time and that it is not only experienced in this area. She stressed that the only
method of disposing plastics in the garbage pits is to burn them and personally understood that
throwing them into a pit only temporarily stops the problem; that it does not solve it.

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 She also had suitable knowledge on the part played by franchise companies such as Cop-
waste.

Respondent#6 was briefly interviewed and stated that the problem of plastic waste has been
around since time immemorial. He did believe that it is indeed a problem, but makes no
attempt at getting rid of it.

Respondent#7 was probably the most optimistic of the interviewed respondents. She agreed
that it is an actual problem, but that the plastics can be recycled. She sagely recycles the
majority of her plastic waste by reusing plastic bags when shopping, converts old bottles into
seedling gardens and knows that some plastics can actually be melted into useful products
such as sandals and shoes.
She acknowledged that the problem in her immediate part of the neighborhood is managed by
someone else and that the problem is much worse in densely populated, shanty compounds.
The remaining five other respondents gave their information during the survey but wished not
to be quoted, even anonymously.

5.2 Summary of information from the Chingola Municipal Council

correspondent.

The name of my correspondent from the Municipal Council was Mr. Phiri Nazareth. He works
under the Public Health Department and is very knowledgeable about his profession.

He mentioned that the Public Health department has 5 sections within itself and the one
responsible for public waste disposal is the Cleansing Section, particularly that of municipal
waste (from markets, roads, the CBD and historical wastes).

He stated that there is a process followed during waste processing, referring to it as the Waste
Cycling Process.

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The generated waste is first collected by the Council Workers (generally, municipal or healthcare
waste) or by franchise companies conscripted by the Council (if they have subscribed customers,
domestic waste). It is then categorized according to composition, size and nature before being
stored accordingly. Then, the waste is transported to the appropriate destination.

The final disposal site varies depending on the waste’s nature; the waste that can be definitely
reused into useful products by altering or direct reuse is taken to recycling plants, whereas waste
having no definite recyclable product is taken to landfills or dumpsites accordingly.

He noted that Chingola Town has a dumpsite located along the Chingola- Chililabombwe road
Located 7km from the CBD where all unrecyclable, pocessed, municipal waste is taken to
complete the Waste Cycling Process.

My respondent, Mr. Phiri, concluded in recommending that the waste generator (domestic
resident or end user of products) begins actively playing their role in trying to minimize the
amount of waste needed to be processed by recycling materials that can be recycled, properly
disposing waste and by subscribing to franchise companies.

5.3 Summary of waste disposal methods; encouraged and discouraged.

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During the field projected research, various methods of waste disposal by residents were noted,
some came encouraged and others discouraged by the health care authorities of the Chingola
Municipal Council.

Noted waste disposal practices:

-Burning or incineration

-Burying

-Dumping

-Composting

Residents of the catchment area agreed that the cheapest and most practiced method of on-site
waste disposal of inorganic waste is burning or incineration using backyard pits. The waste
generally burnt or incinerated includes combustible and incombustible domestic waste
accumulated in refuse pits dug into the ground.

The waste is accumulated, either for disposal by burning or disposal by burying.

Owing to health complications arising from this practice, the Council at one time banned both
methods of waste disposal and imposed a fine on any such lawbreakers. This was done in order
to encourage the usage of skip bins placed by the Council in the community, subscription to
franchise companies as well as to promote recycling of inorganic wastes.

Burning and Burying are in fact punishable offences according to solid waste management
regulations

But, as time passed, the Council became more flexible to allow residents to use backyard refuse
pits to burn organic and/or inorganic waste only as scarcely as possible and to do so only at night
time.

The usage of refuse pits for the sake of composting organic waste was allowed.

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The results indicate that ignorance of the effect of bad waste disposal practices coupled with a
mentality of lack of care for the environment have both led to the high prevalence of inorganic
(plastic) waste.

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Conclusion

5.1 Recommended solutions to the problem

Among the researched solutions to the problem of inorganic waste, the following stand out as the
most feasible for the community as a whole:

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  Subscription to Franchise Companies

Citizens who accept that they require aid from specialists in the process of inorganic waste
management can subscribe to franchise companies. They regularly collect and dispose of
domestic waste of their customers, for a minimal subscription fee.

 Promotion of domestic recycling and recycling habits

The respondent, Mr. Phiri Nazareth, mentioned a well-known fact that Chingola was once the
cleanest town in Zambia, owing to high standards of cleanliness. A good practice then was to
have a specific cleaning day, Friday, when houses practice home cleansing. Promoting this is
likely to have a positive effect on the amount of waste in the environment.

Another probable solution is practicing recycling of all wastes, organic and inorganic, by
making usable products. Organic wastes into compost or animal food. Inorganic waste into
items such as bottle gardens or footwear using physical or chemical altering.

 Promotion of Plastic Recycling Centers

Promoting commercial institutions specifically tasked to collect and recycle inorganic waste
such as plastics into products that can be resold for profit, is one way of managing the
problem. They would be separate from the currently existing franchise companies and accept
the services of anyone willing to work under it. This could potentially create jobs for the
unemployed, reduce on high levels of waste and create useful products from very cheap,
readily available raw materials.

5.2 Conclusion of findings

The findings of the geography field research conclude to say that ignorance and lack of care for
the environment have caused high prevalence of inorganic waste in the catchment area under
study. As a way of addressing this, activities promoting participation in reducing the amount of
waste ought to be imposed. They will help change the people’s mindset towards the problem.

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 5.3 References
 THE AGE OF PLASTIC: PROM PARKESINE TO POLLUTION,
https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/chemistry/age-plastic-
parkesine-pollution#:~:text=Belgian%20chemist%20and%20clever
%20marketeeer,phenol%2C%20under%20heat%20and%20pressure.
 Industrial waste, BYJU’s
https://byjus.com/chemistry/industrial-waste-types/#:~:text=Non%2biodegradable,-
Those%20industrial%20wastes&text=It%20is%20estimated%20that
%20about,easily%20and%20made%20less%20harmful.
 Mututubanya, 2020 LIVED EXPERIENCES OF COUNSELLORS IN
COMMUNICATING HIV TEST RESULTS TO DISCORDANT
HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES AT A SELECTED GENERAL HOSPITAL,
CHINGOLA DISTRICT, ZAMBIA.
 Creswell & Plano, 2012.
 Definition of domestic waste versus commercial waste,
https://www.tr.qld.gov.au
 Waste – Wikipedia,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste
 Landfill, dumpsite – https://www.preventionweb.net
 Disposal – Google Search.
 Map of Riverside – Google Search.
 Waste management – Wikipedia,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_management
 Municipal waste – Wikipedia,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_solid_waste
 Healthcare waste - UN Environment Program,
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/healthcare-waste-what-do-it

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