TOPIC

THE CHALLENGES OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT – THE CASE OF…….. TOWNSHIP

INTRODUCTION

Solid waste is any substance or object that is not fluid that the owner (User) discards or is obliged to
discard. The discarding of solid waste can either be organized or disorganized or indeed legal or illegal
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org). However, the discarding in an organized manner or legal manner is
known as waste management. It includes solid waste collection, transportation, sorting, energy
recorvery, incineration and disposal..

Zambia generates about 1.3 million tones of waste each year but only 10% of this waste is collected and
disposed off properly. The remaining waste ends up in open dumps or littered on the streets causing
health and environmental problems.The capital city Lusaka is the worst hit (Ngolofwana, P and Mwaba,E
(2023) Zambia Waste Mess). The problems of Waste management are not new but are as a result of a
steady breakdown in basic services by the local municipalities, this is coupled with the lack of proper
planning.

LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

More than two thirds of the domestic waste generated in Lusaka is in peri-urban areas where 75% of
urban settlement is living ( ). The best remedy towards solid waste management is to embark on
community based initiatives which have been undertaken in most wards. Despite having community
based solid waste management strategies put up in various wards and constituencies around Lusaka. It
has been observed that the problem of solid waste management still persists. Inspite having a well
organized landfill in the city, unfortunately demand due to population explosion culminates into the
landfill been filled to the brim. Strategies unfortunately do not harness the full potential of recycling.
The problem starts from the first stage of collection to inadequate places for dumping, lack of both
human and capital resources and other inherent problems. This trickles to communities and has a causal
effect on many health and environmental problems been faced in many communities. The challenges
are a lot.
OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of this research is to explore the challenges of waste management in Lusaka – The
case of ------ Township. Specifically the following objectives are delved into:

1. To identify the solid waste management strategies that have been put in place in ----- Township
to manage solid waste
2. To examine the challenges posed if any in the management of solid waste in ………Township
3. To offer possible solution to the challenges of waste management in ….. township

AIMS