Households’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Municipal Solid Waste Disposal

Abstract:

Household waste contributes significantly to municipal solid waste (MSW) generation rates globally. This study evaluates households’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards MSW disposal in the Wa Municipality, Ghana. The study applied both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Questionnaires and interviews were used to obtain information on households’ MSW handling practices and attitudes towards MSW disposal. 211 households responded to the questionnaires.  The study showed that majority of the households’ respondents in the Wa Municipality (40.8%) store their mixed unsorted waste in closed containers. Also, the study indicated that the most widely used method of solid waste (SW) disposal in the Wa Municipality was by burning, with 32.2% households resorting to this option. Furthermore, the study indicated that there was low knowledge of households towards waste reduction and source separation; 83.9% of the household respondents did not sort their waste for collection and did not practice waste reduction. By conducting investigations under some demographic characteristics, the study found a very weak correlation between demographic variables and KAP, however, age was associated with waste disposal (p-value = 0.003 < 0.05). The study, therefore, recommends that the municipal authorities should intensify education and the enforcement of waste disposal regulations for the attainment of sustainable household waste management in the Wa Municipality and Ghana in general.