Assessment of Community Participation in Domestic Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Ilala Municipality, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Examining local community involvement in household solid waste management in the Ilala municipality was the goal of this study. The study was carried out in the Dar es Salaam region's Buguruni ward, which is situated in the Ilala district. To collect information for the study, both primary and secondary data were used. Through key informant interviews, observation techniques, and a questionnaire, primary data were gathered. Reviewing books, papers, and journals yields secondary data. Four (4) municipal and ward environmental officials were surveyed using purposeful sampling procedures; at the ward level, 75 respondents (or 5% of the total respondents) were selected at random from different households. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Excel software were used to analyze the data, which were then presented in the form of text, figures, and tables. According to the study, all households manage their home solid waste; more women than men (28%), however, made up the majority of the profiles. Married couples are more likely to be involved in domestic solid waste management (72%), based on their marital status. The study finds that the majority of domestic solid waste produced in local houses is kitchen trash (88%) in percentage terms. The results also showed that due to the influence of people's educational attainment, community perception and knowledge of residential solid waste management are quite moderate. In addition, the community pays a charge to participate in the collection and transportation of domestic solid waste (DSW). The people's financial incapacity and the absence of contemporary infrastructure for collecting and storage are the main constraints at the household and community levels. Therefore, the study suggests that the government empower environmental committees, foster strong linkages between local government and communities, and promote and enhance community understanding of domestic solid waste management (DSWM).