PROJECT TITLE : TO INVESTIGATE THE EFECTS OF FOOD

PACKAGING MATERIALS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

IN THIKA TOWN, KIAMBU COUNTY

PRESENTED BY : CHEROTICH TRACIA

COURSE NAME : CERTIFICATE IN FOOD PROCESSING AND

PRESERVATION

DEPARTMENT : HEALTH SCIENCES

INSTITUTION NAME : THIKA TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE

INSTITUTION CODE : 207101

COURSE CODE : 1403

INDEX NUMBER : 2071014682

SUPERVISOR : MISS LYDISY MAKENA

PRESENTED TO : KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATION COUNCIL IN

PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF

CERTIFICATE IN FOOD SCIENCE

WORK : TRADE PROJECT

SERIES : JULY 2022

i
 DECLARATION

I declare that document is my own original work and it has never been presented for any award

to any other college or university.

NAME: CHEROTICH TRACIA

SIGNATURE_____________________________ DATE_____________________________

This project has been submitted with my approval as a college supervisor

SUPEVISOR NAME: MISS LYDISY MAKENA

SIGNATURE____________________________ DATE__________________________

ii
 DEDICATION

I dedicated this research project to my lovely parents who have financially supported me

throughout this project, I also extend my dedication to my classmates, brother and sisters who

morally supported me.

May the Almighty God bless you all.

iii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I sincerely thank the almighty Jehovah for the advantage and honor He has taken me

throughout the course I most sincerely would like to send my regards to all those that helped me

during the research and compiling of the entire project. My special gratitude goes to parents for

moral support and classmates in general. I also appreciate my supervisor for the consistent

guidance throughout the project.

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 Table of Contents

DECLARATION ………………………………………………………………………………ii
DEDICATION............................................................................................................................iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..........................................................................................................iv
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................iv
CHAPTER ONE..........................................................................................................................1
1.0 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................1
1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT....................................................................................................2
1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY.................................................................................................2
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY......................................................................................................3
1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY.....................................................................................3
1.5 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY...........................................................................................3
1.6 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY...........................................................................................4
1.7 HYPOTHESIS.......................................................................................................................4
1.8 SCOPE OF THE STUDY......................................................................................................5
CHAPTER TWO.........................................................................................................................5
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................6
2.2 Effects of food packaging materials on the environment......................................................6
2.3 The Concept of Food Packaging Materials Management......................................................7
2.4 Environmental Pollution........................................................................................................9
2.5 Health Related Issue.............................................................................................................10
CHAPTER 3 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY......................................................................12
3.0 Introduction..........................................................................................................................12
3.1 Research Design...................................................................................................................13
3.2 The scope of the study.........................................................................................................13
3.3 Target Population.................................................................................................................14
3.4 Sample Size..........................................................................................................................14
3.5 Sampling Procedure.............................................................................................................15
3.6 Data Collection Instruments.................................................................................................16
Questionnaires............................................................................................................................16

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Observation Checklist................................................................................................................17
3.7 Pre- Test...............................................................................................................................17
3.8 Test of Validity and Reliability of Data Collection Tools...................................................18
CHAPTER FOUR......................................................................................................................19
PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS............................................................................................19
4.0. Introduction.........................................................................................................................19
CHAPTER FIVE:......................................................................................................................25
DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS..........................................................................................25
5.0 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................25
5.1 Analysis of data....................................................................................................................26
5.2 To investigate the diseases that affect humans due to poor waste management..................26

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 ABSTRACT

Plastics have remained the material of choice, and after serving their intended purpose, a large

proportion ends up in the environment where they persist for centuries. The packaging industry

is the largest and growing consumer of synthetic plastics derived from fossil fuels. Food

packaging plastics account for the bulk of plastic waste that are polluting the environment.

Additionally, given the fact that petroleum reserves are finite and facing depletion, there is a

need for the development of alternative materials that can serve the same purpose as

conventional plastics. This research project reviews the effects of food packaging materials and

highlights the future potential of the adoption of packaging alternatives that are environmental

friendly. The objectives of the study will be to investigate the effects of food packaging materials

on the environment, examine the methods of food packaging materials, to establish the pollutants

from this food packaging materials and also to find ways of controlling environment pollution

from the food packaging materials. Polylactic acid (PLA) has emerged as the most favored bio

plastic. However, it is limited by its high cost and some performance drawbacks. Blending with

agricultural waste and natural fillers can result in green composites at low cost, low greenhouse

gas emissions, and with improved performance for food packaging applications. The continent of

Africa is proposed as a rich source of fibers and fillers that can be sustainably exploited to

fabricate green composites in a bid to achieve a circular economy. Structured questionnaire will

be used to collect the primary data desirable for the study. Qualitative data will be analyzed by

use of content analysis and presented in a prose form. A descriptive study design will be used to

obtain the data. Random sampling procedures will be used to get the samples which will be

analyzed and the data tabulated and presented inform of pie charts and bar graphs. The findings

of the study will aid in finding the effects of food packaging materials on the environment.

vii
 CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Food packaging is just one among ways of food preservation for when food is been packaged, it

is set for shipment and marketing. Food Technologist who must have a good knowledge of

technology materials, labour equipment, money research, engineering and management is in any

food-processing establishment.

Particularly, food packages purposely protect the products from environment hazards throughout

the period of the shelf life. Some industries can even be instituted purposely for food packaging.

For these facts, every Food Technologist must acquire the knowledge of packaging principle and

practice as to meet up with the specific requirement of food in order way to retain its quality,

throughout the processing of storage and distribution and even specified the demands in which

the food imposed on the packages.

Though, it is the sole responsibility of the specialist who can design and manufacture these

packages. And because of that, the packages physically protect and maintain quality of the

product, and it attracts the consumers and even be within an average at economic cost.

The age in which we are living is earmarked by intensive scientific and technological progress

which enables cosmic flights, utilization of atomic energy and management of production

processes through cybernetics. However, this scientific, technological and social progress, the

continuous improvement of the standard of living and intensive industrialization have their

disadvantages on environmental quality. One disadvantage is the increase in the quality and

volume of solid food packaging wastes. Waste disposal approaches are essentially those of

relocation of residues from the point of generation to a more suitable and non-detrimental site.

1
The urbanization of society and increasing concern about environmental matters made obvious

the unacceptability of open dumping and thus controlled tipping was developed.

1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Maintenance of adequate primary health care is a prerequisite for every community, whether in

the cities, slums or in the rural areas. Every person in the world has a right to a clean and healthy

environment. In Kenya, however, the unprecedented rate of urbanization has led to a situation

whereby basic infrastructural services have been stressed beyond their capacities. This has in

turn led to several problems, and one of these is the problem of environmentally sound methods

of waste disposal.

As a result of this problem, mounds and mounds of filthy and smelly food packaging materials

do many of the towns once beautiful and hygienic low and middle income residential area.

Garbage in most parts of the city estates is disposed by the residents in open dumps. An example

of this was cited in one of the local dailies, "The Standard" by a correspondent in an article

entitled "The Garbage Watchtawer"1. In this article the writer stated that at one comer of Thika

Estates is a man-made mountain. Years of open dumping has resulted to a peaked mountain with

a huge crater on top. The ugly white and black-peaked mountain which gradually grew to

overtake the fences and houses, is now threatening to bury the families bordering it. This in

addition to its offensive stench. One kiosk operator interviewed said, "When people organize to

bum the rubbish, the dark smoke is quite disturbing".

1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of carrying out this research project will be to investigate the effects of food

packaging materials on the environment.

2
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Although the study is on the environmental impact of waste disposal in residential areas, only

residential area will be studied. The reasons for this are due to the limited amount of time

available to the researcher, and due to limited finance available for travelling to several areas.

The study is on environmental impact; however, not all variables that define the environment

will be studied. The variables that will be studied are air, land, people and buildings. The

residential areas was selected by the researcher because it is the location of the Kiambu city

Council’s tipping site.

1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Most of the world's population live in cities, where there are few options for independently

growing food. That way, 3.5 billion people in the planet's cities buy their products away from

home - and these products usually come packaged. Also, the increase in numbers of single-

member households, which prefer smaller portion sizes, and the growing tendency to eat in

transit, between one commitment and another, is giving rise to an increasing amount of packaged

food. But this raises a big problem; today, one-third of household waste is made up of food

packaging. About 80% of the packaging is discarded after being used only once! As not all of

them go to recycling, this volume helps to overfill landfills and the need for new areas to dispose

of the waste generated. This prompted this research on the investigation on the possible effects of

food packaging materials on the environment.

1.5 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Data limitation will be a major obstacle especially from Kenya since no study has been done on

the same. Lack of available data from other African countries will be also a setback as there were

3
no records on training and the monitoring of hazards found in food industries. This made it

difficult to accurately espouse on the details. However, the study will use literature from other

countries. Besides, the target group carried out practical lessons at different times of the year and

this affected the data collection schedule. As a result, the study has to spread out the data

collection period. In addition, the information needed were captured during observation.

1.6 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Main objectives

To investigate the effects of food packaging materials on the environment at Thika town.

Specific objectives

1. To examine the method of food packaging materials.

2. To establish the pollutants from this food packaging materials.

3. To find ways of controlling environment pollution from food packaging materials.

4. To give recommendations as to how environmental degradation arising from this method of

food packaging materials disposal can be minimized.

1.7 HYPOTHESIS

The null hypothesis of the study i.e. Dumping of food packaging materials wastes at has no

effects on the property values health of the people building structures quality of life of the

people. The alternative hypothesis.

Ho is: Dumping of food packaging materials has caused:

(i) Property values to decline.

4
(ii) Health problems to the residents

(iii) Deterioration of building structures.

(iv) Quality of life of the people to go down.

5
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

This chapter reviews and critically analyses available literature on effects of food packaging

materials on the environment. Literature on concept of food packaging materials management

and environmental pollution which form the core objectives will be reviewed. Theoretical and a

conceptual framework is also developed to show the relationship between the study variables.

2.2 Effects of food packaging materials on the environment

Environmental degradation caused by food packaging materials isn't a brand new topic. Some

food packaging materials like plastic are dumped almost everywhere causing an adverse effect to

the ecosystem. As crucial packaging are, they pose a major threat to the environment.

Packaging creation requires the consumption of natural resources and hence destroying a number

of the unsuspecting animal’s habitats. Some companies also don't regrow a number of the natural

resources they exploit just like the trees.

The process of making these packaging materials also degrades the environment, as toxic gasses

are introduced into the air. If these processes aren't controlled the air will get more toxic.

Sometimes these packaging wastes are dumped irresponsibly causing pollution the environment,

and a few of those wastes don't degrade the least bit. Forest resources are commonly used for

packaging materials like wood and paper.

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Contentious unrestricted consumption of forest resources will undermine its growth balance. An

undermined growth balance will cause norms like erosion, desertification, water shortages and a

series of ecological problems.

Non-degradable food packaging materials stay around for an especially while, these materials

may vary, but their effects are the identical. Such packaging destroys the soil components still as

other components of the environment via atmosphere and aquatic systems.

The soil is crucial since it’s used for agriculture, if affected it might result in food insecurity.

Food packaging materials aren't only harmful to the environment but also to other animals.

Packaging waste irresponsibly dumped could also be ingested by other animals causing their

demise. Waste dumped within the ocean creates an enormous degrading to the environment and

also the creatures living within the sea, and also the waste might affect the mating seasons.

2.3 The Concept of Food Packaging Materials Management

Since the start of life in the world, history shows that food packaging materials and management

has never been is never and shall never be avoided. In this way, a number of ancient scholars and

the modern scholars in environmental management, IT and many more have dwelt in waste

management with the ever increasing industrialization activities and doubling population after

every century. According to Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (2016), Solid

Waste Management (SWM) is a process that involves the collection, storage, transportation,

processing and discarding of solid refuse residuals in an engineered sanitary landfill. This

process is integrated and comprising of several collection methods, storage, various

transportation equipment, recyclable material from recovery mechanisms, reduction of waste

7
quantity and volume using approaches such as composting, waste-to-power and disposal in a

designated engineered sanitary landfill. The source and quality of waste produced influences the

selection of a suitable SWM process. Solid waste such as the food packaging materials is

generated from a number of sources which include households (kitchen and yards), commercial

areas such as hotels, shops, and eateries, industries (packaging and raw material), institutions

such schools, offices, and schools. (IPCC, 2016). In his work entitled, "Waste Management

Practices," Davidson (2018) started by giving a simple definition of the waste management idea

and later on the brief history of the evolution of the waste management idea so that one can

easily understand the concept. According to him, management of waste is the combination of

undertakings that include: collecting, transporting, treating and disposing of waste; monitoring,

controlling, and regulating of production, transport, collection, treatment and disposal of waste;

and prevention of waste production through in modification process, recycling and reuse.

Science Direct (2015) maintains that, waste management from food packaging materials

commonly refers to all kinds of waste that are either produced when packaging of food.

According to United Nations Environmental Programme (2013), management of waste is

intentioned to minimize the effect of waste on environment, aesthetics, or health. Waste

management include: waste generation, removal of waste, minimization of waste, transporting

waste, treating waste, reusing and recycling, storing, collecting, landfill disposal, financial and

marketing aspects, environmental considerations, policing and regulating, training and educating,

implementation and planning. Still, management of waste practices are not identical amongst

both developed and developing nations, urban and rural regions and residential and industrial

sectors. According to National Waste & Recycling Association (2013), during the course of

history, the quantity of waste than humans have generated wasn’t significant as a result of the

8
low density and low levels of societal exploitation of natural resources. Waste that was

frequently produced during pre-modern times was mainly human biodegradable waste and ashes,

and these got released back locally into the ground, to result to lessening of the environmental

impact. The tools having been made from metal or wood were usually reused or passed down

through the generations. Nevertheless there are some of the civilizations that seem to be more

profligate in producing waste than the others.

2.4 Environmental Pollution

Kuria & Mireri (2018) have given a definition of pollution. Pollution is the introduction of

contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change. Pollution can take the

form of chemical substances or energy. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either

foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as

point source or nonpoint source pollution. Rich literature exists across the globe in relation to the

environmental effects as a result of food packaging materials by various bodies in the world.

According to Zhuang, Wang, Wu & Chen (2015) one major environmental issue associated with

the private and municipal waste management projects in China today is the issue of surface water

contamination. They argue that, in the eastern parts of the country for example, Waste from food

packaging materials that end up in water bodies negatively change the chemical composition of

the water. Technically, this is called water pollution. This will affect all ecosystems existing in

the water. It can also cause harm to animals and families that drink from such polluted water.

This has been confirmed by Stringer (2017) water pollution is a major challenge as a result of

solid waste management from food packaging materials management programmes operating in

Kenya today. According to him, unsanitary landfills for example contaminate surface and ground

water resources when the leachate created percolates through the soil strata into the underneath

9
groundwater or during rains it is washed as runoff. Leachate is commonly a strong reducing

liquid formed under methanogenic (anaerobic) conditions. The content of various constituents in

the dumped waste give the characteristics of leachate (GoI, 2017). Studies on Environmental

Quality in and around Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite in Kolkata, by World Bank (2019) found

that areas managed by municipal waste control project initiatives had moderately high

concentrations of heavy metal in groundwater surround the dumpsite. The study found out that

the groundwater quality has been significantly affected. In Nairobi and Kampala for example, the

study touched on Leachate. It showed that Leachate usually contains organic chemicals formed

by heavy metals leached from inorganic wastes from food packaging materials. The heavy

metals generally observed in leachate are Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), and Nickel

(Ni). 25 All these heavy metals are characterized as toxic for drinking water. Due to the reducing

property of leachate, during percolation through soil strata, it reacts with Iron (Fe) and

Manganese (Mn) species underground and reduces them into more soluble species, thus

increasing their concentrations in groundwater Nyokabi (2011). Such reactions when they occur,

pose a serious drinking water toxic risk. These predictions are substantiated by studies which

found high concentrations of Cr, Cd and Mn in groundwater due to leachate percolation. Nitrates

present in the environment can also be reduced to nitrites due to leachate. Nitrites consumed

through drinking water can oxidize haemoglobin (Hb) in the blood to methaemoglobin (met Hb),

thereby inhibiting the transportation of oxygen around the body (Habitat International, 2010).

The study clearly establishes that waste landfills in Nairobi, Kampala and elsewhere are potential

sources of heavy metals contamination in groundwater sources adjoining the landfills. It also

points out that there is an urgent need to adopt credible solutions to control water pollution due

to indiscriminate dumping of wastes from food packaging materials.

10
2.5 Health Related Issue

According to Role (2015), the generation of waste from food packaging materials and the

collection, processing, transport and disposal of waste—the process of ‘waste management’—is

important for both the health of the public and aesthetic and environmental reasons. Waste is

anything discarded by an individual, household or organization. As a result waste is a complex

mixture of different substances, only some of which are intrinsically hazardous to health. The

potential health effects of both waste itself and the consequences of managing it have been the

subject of a vast body of research. In their work (The Practice and Challenges of Solid Waste

Management in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria; Tennessee, USA, and, Soweto, SA), Babalola et

al (2010) elaborated on hazardous substances associated with waste management projects.

According to them, environmental monitoring of all potential sources of pollution from different

waste management options has been, and is being continuously, carried out and thus a great deal

is known about the types and amount of substances emanating from them. Whatever the waste

management project, it is generally the case that: (a) there are usually a large number of different

substances from food packaging materials Gases emitted from landfill sites in the study areas for

example, consist principally of methane and carbon dioxide, with other gases, such as hydrogen

sulphide and mercury vapor being emitted at low concentrations, and a mixture of volatile

organic compounds (VOCs) comprising approximately 0.5%. A WHO exposure assessment

expert group suggested that priority 21 pollutants should be defined on the basis of toxicity,

environmental persistence and mobility, bioaccumulation and other hazards such as explosives

(Leedy & Ormrod, 2016). In addition to the substances above, they suggested that landfill site

investigations should consider metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated

11
biphenyls (PCB), chlorinated hydrocarbons, pesticides, dioxins, asbestos, pharmaceuticals and

pathogens. According to Napoleon, Momodu & Joan (2015), Waste incineration also produces a

large number of pollutants from the combustion of sewage sludge, chemical, clinical and

municipal waste, which can be grouped as particles and gases, metals, and organic compounds.

Ten pollutants considered having the greatest potential impact on human health based on

environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and amount emitted and/or on inherent toxicity were

cadmium, mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel, and dioxins, PCBs, PAHs, PM10 and SO2.

12
 CHAPTER 3 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

This chapter has given a detailed outline on how the study will be executed. It has also explored

the research design employed in the study, highlighted data collection instruments, explained

data analysis and hypotheses testing, as well as experimental designs used in the isolation of

microorganisms. The chapter will also discuss the validity and reliability of the entire study as

well as ethical issues involved. It will outline the overall methodological framework of the study.

3.1 Research Design

To achieve the objectives of this study, the researcher will use descriptive cross sectional survey

design, which combined both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis

techniques. Quantitative data will be derived from questionnaires while qualitative data was

generated from interview schedules. As observed by Gall and Borg (2010) descriptive survey

involved collection of data from members of a group, students, teachers or other persons

associated with educational process. Survey design allows the researcher to observe the status

quo as well as facts rather than manipulate variables (Creswell and Plano, 2016). The design will

therefore be appropriate for the study since this study is interested in establishing the facts as

they are in relation to food and hygiene practices in training industries workers.

The design also allows the researcher to describe, explain and examine facts, trends and patterns

that emerged from the study, based on the argument that descriptive survey focuses on people,

opinions, attitudes, beliefs behavior and motivations (Kerlinger, 2015).

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3.2 The scope of the study

This study will be carried out in Thika town Kenya. The Food industries included BIDCO

among other. The inclusion criteria consisted of all Food industries in Kiambu County. Heads of

Departments of these industries were also included, as they represented their various industries.

3.3 Target Population

The target population of this study comprises fifty six (56) industrial workers. Food industries

departments in the entire country will be considered as reliable sources of information. By

considering all these industries in the entire country, the study aims at obtaining as much

representative data as possible.

It will be established that there were over 44 Food industries within Kiambu County in

Kenya that offered products related to food and beverage production and service. In these

industries, the specifically targeted respondents will be workers in food and beverage

production and service departments.

3.4 Sample Size

A total of 38 individuals participated in the study. Table 3.1 summarizes distribution of the

respondents according to the categories of the targeted industries.

Table 3.1:- Distribution of Respondents in the Targeted industries

Source: Researcher

The sample size was determined by using the formula proposed by Mugenda (2013).

14
Where; n = the desired sample size z = the z score at the required confidence level α = 0.05

(i.e. z = 1.96) p = the probability of a student in the target population to be doing a course in food

and beverage production and service d = permissible marginal error (the level of statistical

significance, set at α = 0.05).

The study assumes that a student picked at random in any sampled institution could be or

could not be doing a course in food and beverage production and service. Consequently, the

probability of the target population satisfying the conditions set for participants was 0.5.

That is, the probability of doing a course related to food and beverage production and

service was 0.5. Therefore, using the values of z, p and d, the value of n was computed as

follows

n = 56 (Approximately)

To get a large sample (relative to the size of the targeted population), this value was doubled

to get a sample size of 112.

3.5 Sampling Procedure

Stratified sampling technique will be used to select the Food Packaging industries to group the

population into a homogenous subset and to ensure equitable representation of the population in

the sample. Besides, it facilitated comparison of the two categories of industries (Marshall and

Rosemann, 2018). Stratified sampling technique will also be used to ensure that the target

population was divided into different homogenous strata and that each sub group was

represented in the sample in a proportion equivalent to its size in the population. This will ensure
15
that each subgroup characteristic was represented in the sample thereby raising the validity of the

study. Simple random sampling will be used to ensure that each member of the target population

had an equal and independent chance of being included in the sample.

In selection of respondents, both probability and purposive sampling techniques were used.

Probability sampling technique used in selection of workers-respondents. In this case, each target

student-respondent will be pre-assigned some chance of being included in the sample. This

technique used since it minimized biases in sample selection. As one method of probability

sampling technique, lottery method will be used to identify specific sample units. This will be

done using identical cards where numbers will be written and cards drawn at random. Population

unit whose identification number corresponded to a drawn card was selected. This procedure will

be repeated for all the sample units. On the other hand, purposive sampling technique will be

used in the selection of staff-respondents. This technique will be used since it facilitated the

provision of focused information, besides being able to save time and money.

3.6 Data Collection Instruments

The study will use both primary and secondary data collection methods to collect the data.

Primary data sources included using structured questionnaires, taking photographs, oral

interviews, and direct observation and focus group discussions. Secondary sources, on the other

hand, involved retrieving information from desk research where journals, books and other

relevant literature will be obtained.

Questionnaires

Questionnaires will be used to gather data since they not only allowed a measurement for or

against a particular viewpoint, but also gather a large amount of information within a short

16
time span (Orodho, 2014; Best & Khan, 2016). Two types of questionnaires will be used in

this study; one for students and the other for lecturers and/or heads of departments. Open

and closed- ended questions will be used. The open- ended questions gave respondents a

chance to freely express their attitude or perception and a qualitative insight to the study.

For the closed-ended questions, the study adopted a Five Point Likert Scale and

consequently, most variables/questions will be ordinal in nature. Nevertheless, a few

nominal questions will also be included. Research assistants under a close watch of the

researcher did distribution of the questionnaires.

Observation Checklist

Another method used will be observation method. According to Mugenda (2018),

observation was one of the most important and extensively used research instrument for data

collection in the field of social sciences. Observation will be used to capture practical

aspects of the study such as food handling, capacity, and facilities. It also bridged the gap

between what the respondents said they did and what they actually did. The checklist will be

used to gather data on quality and quantity of physical facilities. Information from the

checklist assisted the study to obtain information on the learning environment. In addition,

observation check-list assisted in identifying and evaluating the availability and usability of

the equipment in the food industries. The observation checklist helped record the

information as it occurred, and to gain first-hand experience on the ground, in addition to

noticing unusual aspects which could not be obtained from other sources of information.

3.7 Pre- Test

17
Pre-test of the study will be carried out two months prior to the study in similar industries not

sampled in the survey. Out of every county with more than three food industries, one was

selected for pre-test. The aim of pre-test will be to check on the practicality of the instruments.

This assessment includes checking achievability of the study objectives and suitability of

research tools. The pre- evaluation showed that some questions will be poorly answered. Also,

some questions will be found to be ambiguous; therefore, some respondents could not

understand the questions. As a result, no meaningful information could be obtained. The pre-test

of this study, therefore assist in weeding out errors to ensure proper applicability of the research

instruments.

3.8 Test of Validity and Reliability of Data Collection Tools

Orodho (2015) and Mugenda (2019) defined reliability as a measure of the degree to which

research instruments yielded consistent results after repeated trials. Mugenda (2019) added that

reliability was influenced by random error, which meant that as random error increased,

reliability decreased.

Validity and reliability of this study will be proved in four different ways. One way will be by

applying randomized procedures in selecting sample units as observed by (Brussee, 2014).

Randomization was done to eliminate any bias and, therefore, all responses reflected the true

image of the target population. Repeatability of statistical tests was also used to justify validity

of the study as will be used in the triangulation of the tests in the hypotheses. Performing a test

more than once and comparing results confirmed how valid and reliable analytical procedures

were. In addition, consistency in procedures used in data analysis revealed how valid and reliable

the study will be (Lehmann & Romano, 2010). A reliable and valid study will use similar

18
procedures in all tests. Comparison of the study with findings of previous studies about the same

topic confirmed validity of this research.

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS

4.1. Introduction

The chapter presents the data collected from the questionnaires, interviews as well as

observation on the impact of food packaging materials on the environment, a case study of

Thika town, Kiambu County. Data is presented in tabular and explanations given. The tables

and graphs were used because they are easy and simple to follow. A brief explanation has been

given to each table at the bottom.

Table 4.2.1 Gender participation of the respondents.

Sex Frequency Percentage

Male 54 62

Female 46 38

Total 90 100

From the survey results above, men participate more in the study (54%) than female at (46%).

19
 70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
MALE FEMALE

Table 4.2.2 Levels of education of respondents

Education Response Percentage

Less than Primary 4 4.4

Primary 35 39

Secondary 28 31.1

College 20 22.2

University 3 3.3

Total 80 100

20
 45.00%

40.00%

35.00%

30.00%

25.00%

20.00%

15.00%

10.00%

5.00%

0.00%
Less than primary primary Secondary College University

Most of the respondents have had only primary education, representing 39%, while 55% have

gone up to secondary school. 22.2% have been through college and most of them health care

workers and community health workers, 3.3 % have been to the university most of them are In-

charge of offices in the county. The low levels of education attained, and unemployment have

also been a major contributing factor to the high levels of scavengers at the dumpsite.

Table 4.2.3 Types of respondents

Education Response Percentage

Community residents 45 50

Scavengers Locals 25 27.7

Community Health workers 5 5.6

Others 15 16.7

21
 Total 90 100

600%

500%

400%

300%

200%

100%

0%
Community Residents Health workers others

Most of the respondent were community residents at 50%, 27.7% were locals, 5.6% were

community health workers and 16.7% representation were from health care workers.

Table 4.2.6: The common diseases caused by improper waste management

Response

1 Cholera

2 Typhoid fever

3 Respiratory tract infection

4 Skin diseases

The table above shows four common diseases which are caused by poor waste management.

22
Table 4.2.7 Respondents interviewed on how often community care workers sensitize the

community on the diseases caused by improper dumping of solid waste

Cleaning of Once Twice a Once per weekly Not sure

surrounding year month

a year quarterly

percentage 20% 1% 4% 10% 5% 50%

From the table above most community health workers don’t know if sensitization take place.

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
Once a year Twice a year Quartery Once per month weekly Not sure

Series 1 Series 2 Series 3

Table 4.2.8: The table shows the number of people who have suffered of diseases caused

due to poor waste from food packaging materials.

Suffered

23
 Cholera 1,901

Respiratory Tract infection 463

Typhoid Fever 243

Skin infection 322

The table below shows respondents who heard or have suffered from the diseases listed above.

Responds were encouraged to states all types of the diseased mentioned above without being

restricted to one. The table show all the three diseases are common in the compound with

typhoid fever being the highest followed by cholera, RTIs and skin infection respectively.

CHAPTER FIVE:

24
5.0 DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS

5.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter will present a discussion of findings presented on the impact of food packaging

materials on the environment. Therefore, the discussion of the findings will be based on the

objectives of the study, which are.

• To investigate the diseases that affect humans due to poor waste from food packaging

materials.

• To describe the measures which the health facilities (Ministry of Health) have put in

place to minimize the impact of diseases associated with improper waste from food

packaging materials.

• To explore possible sustainable mitigation measures to challenges of improper waste

from food packaging materials.

5.1 Analysis of data

Thika residents face many environmental and occupational risks. According to Binion and

Gutberlet (2012), there is a high prevalence of infectious disease among waste pickers and

nearby residents due to their exposure to hazardous materials, such as faecal matter, paper

saturated by toxic materials, bottles and containers with chemical residues.

The results of figure 4.2.8 four common diseases associated with poor waste management. The

diseases include Cholera, Respiratory tract infection, Typhoid fever and skin diseases.

Data will be analyze using both qualitative and quantitative.

5.2 To investigate the diseases that affect humans due to poor waste management.

25
The first objective was ascertained diseases associated with improper waste management on

human health. The data from Thika health facility showed the number of people suffered from

the most common diseases associated with improper waste management from food packaging

materials.

5.3 To describe the measures which the health facilities (Ministry of Health) have put in

place to minimize the impact of diseases associated with improper waste management. In

order to minimize and control the spread of diseases due to poor waste management, the facility

through ministry of health have come up with different measures to control the common

diseases caused due to poor waste management.

The taken include.

• Community sensitization on disease prevention and control.

• Routine cleaning of public areas such as markets, malls and clinic to prevent infection

and spread of diseases.

• Allocation of areas of waste management such as bins and collection points.

• Creating of laws that fee improper disposal of waste by members of the public.

• Creation of community-based waste management bodies

26
5.4 To explore possible sustainable mitigation measures to challenges of improper waste

from food packaging materials.

The following management and control measures are recommended to minimize any disease

impact associated with poor waste management.

MoH staffs should be fully trained to implement the relevant emergency response plans in the

event of an outbreak

• Responsible council to work out to Stop and prevent the release of any materials that

infiltrate and contaminate environment.

• The elaboration and implementation of a continuous and regular site inspection

system that includes spill control and pollution prevention procedures for handling and

storage of any contaminants.

27
 CHAPTER SIX

6.1 Conclusions and Recommendations

This chapter discusses the conclusions and recommendations of the study. The purpose of this

study was to investigate the effects of food packaging materials on the environment in Thika

town, Kiambu County.

In order to achieve this objective, various literature was reviewed to get the insights of the

diverse thoughts on the subject as well as to guide the explanations of the findings of the results.

The chapter also dwells on the conclusion drawn from the research findings and analysis and

thereafter make recommendations based on the findings.

6.2 Conclusion

The research conducted detected numerous factors and constraints that negatively impact on

human health due to improper dumping of food packaging materials around Thika town.

Provision of waste containers in the markets, waste collection vehicles and other logistics could

prevent indiscriminate waste dumping, burning and other forms of waste disposal to curb the

menace of environmental hazards solid waste generates. Introduction of good integrated waste

management system could promote more recycling of waste materials into compost, bio energy

and other forms of raw materials that could be used by industries as well as reducing

environmental pollution. These can be achieved if LCC focuses attention more on securing the

dumpsite by increasing security management, incorporating prudent policies as well as

allocating enough funds to conduct community sensitization and conducts disease awareness

campaigns on a regular basis in corroboration with Public health office for all operations to

work efficiently to achieve formidable result. Introduction of Public Private Partnership (PPP)

28
in the waste management sector could also help to address some technical, economic and

financial challenges in solid waste management.

6.3 Recommendations

The study however has finalized by providing policy recommendations on how to improve

welfare of town’s poor under the current development framework and the discussion of the

recommendations is shaped by different social protection conceptual frameworks.

• Ministry health should start early community sensitization for them to catch up with

other areas, which comes unpassable during rainy season.

• members of the public in the Waste Management Districts should be educated on the

policy guidelines regulating the operations of private companies collecting garbage

• Public health team to distribute chlorine on time in the community for water treatment in

order to overcome cholera.

• Sensitization of cholera, typhoid fever and malaria should be an on-going thing not

when rainy season is near.

• Lusaka City Council to engage other stakeholders like private sectors in terms of

Garbage collection in the community and dumpsite management

• On preventive measures, Government should put hand pump boreholes in areas where

they use shallow wells waters for cooking and drinking.

• The government must establish community health education centres where members of

the community can access information regarding proper solid waste disposal and

diseases outbreak.

29
• Families must be assisted in determining what is going on in their household which can

be led to disease outbreak and tremendous restructuring, rethinking, shift the culture in

the community and the culture we have at approaching the problem.

• Scavengers should not be encouraged at the dumpsite

• Conduct waste management review meetings at the dumpsite and encourage physical

check by LCC management in corroboration with health facilities.

30
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