Solid Waste Management Perceptions and Practices in Pujehun Town Southern Sierra Leone

Senesie Fullah; Prince T Mambay; Yahaya Kudush Kawa; Alfred Bockarie

Abstract

Solid waste management is one of the most visible environmental and social issues facing Sierra Leone and is having a worrisome dimension with the growing urbanization rate. The need for economic growth to accommodate aspirations for an improved standard of living tends to disproportionatelyescalate the rate of waste generation. Pujehun town does not have a clear waste management plan (WSMP) despite the rapid population increase, this compounding issue has strained the infrastructure, resulting in complicated environmental and social problems in the community, notably solid wastemanagement. This study evaluated the solid waste management perceptions and practices by solving the following research questions; what are the socio-demographic characteristics of the Pujehun respondents? What are the methods of waste disposal? What are the effects of solid waste? And whatare the livelihood benefits of waste management in Pujehun town? A descriptive research method was utilized to undertake the study. The population for the study was residents of the Mamjama community, which constituted respondents involved in/dealing with solid waste management, Healthcare facilities, and domestic and agricultural activities. The sample size was 200 individuals. Data collection was done with a 23-item validated questionnaire. Descriptive research techniques were utilized for the study.Data analysis was undertaken using the descriptive statistics of percentages, graphs, table of frequency, and with the aid of survey Photos. The result was presented in accordance with the specific objectives; the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, the method of waste disposal in Pujehuntown, the effects of solid waste in the district, and the livelihood benefits of waste management in the Pujehun community. The results show that the majority of the respondents are women (72%), 46% of respondents attested to be 18–30 years of age, 37.5% respondents attested to District Council collection method of waste disposal, 89% of respondents attested to generated domestic/kitchen/market wastes, 71.5% of respondents attested to non-separation of waste before disposal, 98% of respondents attestedto non-measurement of wastes before disposal, 1% of Medical respondents attested to having generated one ton of waste before disposal, 17% of all healthcare respondents attested to medical waste separation before disposal, 12% of respondents attested to having incineration method of waste disposal in the Hospitals which indicated that incineration method ensures destruction of hazardous waste, thereby preventing waste fromhospitals from entering landfill.