The Municipal Solid Waste Environmental Sciences Essay
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Chapter one provides an overview of the whole study. It begins with the background to the study. It also details the purpose of the study, the problem statement, the research questions and the objectives. The research hypothesis, the significance of the study and the limitations to the study are also included in this chapter.
1.1 Background to the Study
More than half of the world’s population live in areas that are classified as urban (Brook and Davila, 2001). Taking Africa as an example, its population will almost triple by 2050 and this will be primarily in the urban and peri-urban areas (UN-Habitat 2001).
Rapid urbanisation, which is mainly driven by the influx of migrants from rural areas in search of better livelihoods, has its attendant consequences. Increasing waste generation rates due population growth, changing lifestyles of people, development and consumption of products with materials that are less biodegradable have led to the diverse challenges for Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in various cities of the world (Asase et al 2009)
Nemerow et al (2009) define solid waste as any variety of solid materials as well as some liquids in containers, which are discarded or rejected as being spent, useless, worthless or in excess. It must be noted that although waste might not have any user value to the owner it still holds some value, particularly plastic and metallic waste still hold some value when discarded. This is evident in the recycling of plastic waste and the collection of metallic waste by scavengers for recycling.
According to UNEP (2005), waste generation rates of a nation usually goes up directly proportional to technological advancement in development, and the inability to put in place a waste management system. Consequently, there could be enhanced urban population risk, as a result of marked environmental filth.
A significant proportion of urban waste in Ghana is deposited either on the roads, roadsides, unapproved dump sites, in waterways, drainage system, or in open places. In fact, solid waste poses various threats to public health, and adversely affects flora and fauna as well as the environment; especially when it is not appropriately collected and disposed (Geraldu, 1995).
Sanitation and good hygiene are fundamental to health, survival, growth and development. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have set us on a common course to push back poverty, inequality, hunger and illness. Having a healthy urban environment sets a city on track for development. The effects of solid waste management is a big cost to the nation in terms of health because when garbage ends up in the wrong place, it pollutes water, air and the soil, creating negative health impacts, and offers bacteria and pests a friendly environment in which to multiply.
Ghana, with a population of 23 million generates about 4.5 million metric tons of solid waste a year (Agyepong, 2011).
With an estimated population of about 2 million people, the Kumasi Metropolis generates an average of 1,500 tonnes of solid waste daily. Out of this amount the KMA is only able to collect about 1,300 tonnes leaving the remaining 200 tonnes uncollected due to inadequate waste collection logistics (KMA, 2010). No intention about effectiveness in disposal and recycling or reuse.
In recent times, a popular waste management option that has caught the attention of the Metropolitan Authorities in the urban centres is the utilization of private waste management companies. Though the use of private waste management companies in dealing with the challenge of effective management of urban waste is yet gaining popularity among developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, it provides a formidable means of securing a viable waste management option for urban authorities and fulfilling the dreams of achieving environmentally clean neighbourhoods for urban dwellers. Prominent among the private waste management companies contracted by the Waste Management Department of the KMA to help fulfill its mandate of addressing solid waste management issues in the metropolis is the Zoomlion Ghana Limited, which seems to be performing its task creditably in the face of daunting challenges associated with urban solid waste management in Ghana. From literature and experts in the field of waste management field,a set of performance indicators like the waste management activities they render (ie street sweeping, drain cleaning, waste collection and disposal), operational capacity in terms of staffing, machinery and equipments, the financial viability of their activities etc. are needed to assess operations of waste management in the Metropolis effectively.
1.2 Problem Statement
Kumasi is referred to as Garden City of West Africa. The latter is an accolade earned from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on a Royal visit to Ghana in 1957, mainly due to its flora and beauty. Kumasi is fast losing its glory mainly due to rapid urbanization and its attendant problem of relatively huge waste generation and poor management of the waste. It is now quite common to see heaps of waste dotted all over the metropolis, Usually the reason given by the general public for these ugly sights is that city authorities fail to either provide or supervise the provision of waste containers at vantage points. The City Authorities are further accused of failing to ensure that regular and/or frequent emptying of the waste containers are done, even where these are provided. Individual end-users of the services of private waste management companies often complain about unreliable service delivery by these waste management firms. On the other hand, these private waste management firms argue that city authorities hamper their quest for quality service delivery through bureaucracy, with regards to honouring contractual agreements with the City Authorities. All this leads to ineffective waste management.
It is generally believed that ineffective waste management can cause contamination of surface water, groundwater, soil, and air, which bring more problems to humans, other species, and ecosystems. Additionally, there is attraction of insects and rodents, which provides a haven for yellow fever, the plague, gastrointestinal parasites, worms, and various adverse human conditions. Several diseases, as well as cancers are caused by exposing humans to wastes resulting from the burnt rodents and insects.
Waste treatment and disposal produce significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, notably methane, and contributes significantly to global climate change (International Waste Activities, 2003).
Besides, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) incurs a monthly expenditure of GH¢585,000.00 on the management of solid waste in the Metropolis (KMA, 2011). Understandably, the substantial cost involved in solid waste management within the Metropolis arouses stakeholder interest in knowing the quality of service being rendered by contracted waste management firms.
This study seeks to investigate the performance of urban solid waste management in the Kumasi Metropolis, determine how effectively Zoomlion, a contracted private waste management company performs its operations
1.3 Objectives of the Study
To evaluate the performance of private sector participation via Zoomlion a privately-owned waste management company, with regard to urban solid waste management in the Kumasi Metropolis.
Specific Objectives of the study are:
To assess the operational capacity of Zoomlion in terms of staffing and equipment for effective operations.
To estimate the quantity of waste handled per period and its associated cost.
To estimate the revenue generated and the financial viability of Municipal solid waste management operations of Zoomlion.
To assess solid waste recycling activity in Kumasi Metropolis.
To determine the challenges of waste management and perception of end-users on quality of waste management in Kumasi.
1.4 Research Questions
The questions this study seeks to address are:
What is the operational capacity of Zoomlion in terms of staffing and equipment for effective operation?
What are the quantity of waste handled per period and its associated cost?
What are the revenue generated and the financial viability of the municipal solid management operations of Zoomlion?
What solid waste recycling activities are in the Metropolis?
What are the challenges of waste management and perception of end-users on quality of waste management in Kumasi?
1.5 Justification of the study
Efficient urban waste management is crucial in the attainment and sustenance of the status of millennium city by Kumasi. Indeed, sanitation forms one of the major focuses of the Millennium Cities Initiatives’ social sector and investment-related research in Kumasi. Knowledge of the degree of efficiency of waste management by the Zoom lion in the Kumasi Metropolis and the challenges faced in the delivery of this service would ensure better appreciation of the dynamics of urban waste management by all stakeholders including policy makers. It would also provide vital information to prospective investors in the urban waste management venture. Various studies have been conducted regarding urban waste management in the Kumasi Metropolis but little or nothing seems to have been done in the area of evaluating the performance of private urban waste management firms, and results from this study will fill the knowledge gap.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The study would be carried out within the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study seeks to review the waste management policy of KMA waste department and the operations of its associated contracted private waste companies in the Kumasi Metropolis. Zoomlion Ghana Limited would be used as a case study for the whole project. The target for the study includes staff members of the KMA waste department, Zoomlion Ghana Limited as well as that of small recycling business (scavengers) . The participants for the study would be selected using simple random sampling whereby each participant would have an equal chance of being involved in the study. The use of simple random sampling is to enable the researcher avoid any form of biaseness in the selection process. Interviews, questionnaires and observation would be used to elicit the required information from the target group. Performance Indicators are: frequent breakdown of vehicles and equipments, payment of service fees, logistical constraints, monitoring/ supervision by KMA, abregation/revision of contractual agreement, and awareness of sanitation bye laws.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
Acquisition of information on cost of operations and revenue generated by Zoomlion Gh Ltd is anticipated to be difficult because of the high confidentiality that individuals and businesses attach to such information. Most officials will not voluntarily grant interviews until they have sought permission from higher authority.
1.8 Structure of the Study
The study is structured into five chapters. Chapter one will introduce the study including the background, the problem statement, objectives and the project scope. Chapter two will provide information pertaining to review of literature relevant to the study topic. In this chapter, the existing body of knowledge would be reviewed to properly establish the theoretical foundation for the dissertation. Chapter three will capture the research methodology, detailing the research instruments and techniques that would be employed by the researcher in collecting data, analysing the data and interpreting the results. Chapter four will give an overview of the results of data collected in chapter three, together with analysis and discussion with respect to findings of other similar studies. Chapter five will wrap up the whole study by providing information pertaining to the summary, the conclusion and recommendation of the study.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Definition of Waste
Materials that are not necessarily classified as prime products are regarded as waste. Generally, these materials are those that the generator intends to dispose of. Further, these materials do not find additional utilisation with respect to change, consumption, or production by the generator of the waste. The generation of wastes may result from raw materials extraction, raw materials processing into in-process and final products, the usage of finished products and diverse human actions. The recycling of residuals or in-situ reuse are not included (GST, 2002).
The returning of substances to the environment is a resultant of the occurrence of a natural part of the recycle. The wastes recycled by living organisms are excreted by in-take of raw materials by living organisms. Nonetheless, a further flow of the residue of materials that would create an overload of the capacity of process involved in natural recycling is produced by people. Therefore, to reduce their impact on the health, aesthetics and the environment, there should be proper management of the wastes (Environmental Literacy Council, 2002).
Man-made systems which emphasize the economic value of materials and energy, and where production and consumption are the dominant economic activities. Such systems tend to be highly destructive of the environment as they require massive consumption of natural capital and energy, return the end product (waste) to the environment in a form that damages the environment and require more natural capital be consumed in order to feed the system. Where resources and space are finite (the Earth is not getting any bigger) this is ultimately not sustainable. The presence of waste is an indication of overconsumption and that materials are not being used efficiently (Fullcycle, 2009).
2.2 Types of Waste
2.2.1 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
The terminology – municipal solid waste (MSW) – is used for the wastes that are collected from commercial buildings, households, light industrial processes and institutions like schools and hospitals. The main components of MSW are yard trimmings, containers and packing materials, wastes from foods, paper and containers. In addition, the following may also be contained in MSW; industrial sludge, which may be either non-hazardous or hazardous from n, construction, mining, and processes involved in manufacturing. There is no immediate threat to the health of human or the natural environment, if MSW is managed properly.
In Ghana solid waste refers mainly to:
Domestic waste (waste from food preparation, sweeping, discarded household items),
Municipal waste (waste generated in commercial centres),
Industrial waste (e.g. wood waste, waste from abattoirs and food processing industries, metal scraps from garages) (Poku, 2009).
2.2.2 Waste
Existing in a solid, liquid or gaseous form, a waste material may be flammable, reactive, corrosive or toxic. Despite the fact that the term “waste” is associated with hazardous materials, the former includes products used on a daily basis. Waste materials include shoe polish, detergents, batteries, used oil from motorised transport, and paint. Additionally, the production processes of several times that we use daily generate hazardous wastes. Legislations have been put in place to enjoin commercial and industrial concerns to manage their wastes from the point of generation till the time of disposal. In order to minimise the hazardous nature of wastes, the latter is often made to undergo treatment with a view to modifying their biological, chemical and physical characteristics. In contemporary times, many industrial concerns change their production processes or replace harmful materials with less unsafe ones in the value chain, so as to minimise the generation of hazardous wastes.
2.2.3 E-Waste
In modern times, there is a new waste stream, which is aptly termed ‘e-waste’. The term e-waste is applied to electronic equipment and gadgets that are utilised by industries and end-users, which have virtually come to the end of their useful life. The equipment and gadgets in question include fax machines, copiers and television screens. Classical examples of e-waste are the cathode ray tubes in televisions and computer monitors, which are virtually exhausted. The fact that these equipment and gadgets contain hazardous materials poses challenges during their disposal. On account of the dearth of proper procedures to manage them, most of the e-waste sits idly, instead of being recycled or being reused. Reselling and donation to charities by their owner are some of the ways by which some of these equipment and gadgets could be put to good use.
2.3 Composition of Solid Waste
Information on the composition of solid waste is important in evaluating alternative equipment needs, systems, and management programme and plans for solid waste collection (Tchobanoglous et al., 1993). For instance, if wastes are generated from a commercial facility that consists of only paper products, the use of special processing equipment such as shredders and balers may be appropriate. Separate collection may also be considered if different city collection agencies are involved. According to (Asase et al., 2009) the composition of solid waste in the Kumasi city is predominantly made of biodegradable materials and high percentage of inert materials which include wood ash, sand and charcoal. Table 2.1 shows the solid waste composition in the Kumasi area.
Table 2.1:Composition of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) for Kumasi in 2011
Waste component
Percentage of Municipal Solid Waste component
Organic Material
40.19
Plastics
19.86
Glass/ bottles
1.20
Paper and cardboard
7.04
Metals
2.23
Textiles
6.94
Inert (Sand, ash, fine organics, demolition waste) Material
20.84
Wood
1.71
Total
100.00
Source: KMA WMD (2012)
2.4 Waste Management Hierarchy
The waste management hierarchy can be traced back to the 1970s, when the environment movement started to critique the practice of disposal-based waste management. Rather than regarding ‘rubbish’ as a homogenous mass that should be buried, they argued that it was made up of different materials that should be treated differently – some shouldn’t be produced, some should be reused, some recycled or composted, some should be burnt and others buried (Schall 1992).
The waste hierarchy refers to the practical ways of managing waste with the main aim of extracting maximum benefits from products and generate minimum amount of waste, the ways are listed in order of importance. They are source reduction and reuse, recycle and composting, energy recovery and lastly, treatment and disposal.( US EPA, 2012) Below is graphical representation of the waste management Hierarchy, with the least preferred option, disposal marked at the bottom of the triangle, and at the top is the most preferred option, that is source reduction and reuse . Unfortunately WMD of KMA practice the least preferred option, which is the the disposal at the landfill site, that means our management system in the metropolis is not the best and it looks not sustainable too without the other interventions shown on the diagram.
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Figure 2.1: Waste Management Hierarchy
Source : .( US EPA, 2012)
2.4.1 Source Reduction and Reuse
This intervention or strategy means reducing waste at source, reducing the amount of waste you produce actually prevents it from piling up. To go by this strategy, avoid unnecessary packaging, and items designed to be used only once. Example, a durable re-useable bags should be used for shopping instead of collecting a lot of polyethene bags.
Reusing items saves a lot of energy, natural resources, saves money for consumers and businesses. For example useable containers, clothing, furniture etc can be donated to charity instead of dumping them at the dumpsite to increase waste generation. ( US EPA, 2012).
2.4.2 Recycling and Composting
Recycling
The gathering of used items and discarded materials and processing them into new products is referred to as recycling. In recycling, there is minimisation of the quantum that is otherwise discarded into the rubbish bins of communities. This results in relatively clean environment, while improving the quality of the ambient air (Lave et al.,1999). Some of the benefits of recycling waste are resource efficiency, mitigation in the impact on the environment from waste treatment and the disposal thereof. In effect, this leads to a cleaner and a healthier environment. Additional benefits include a decrease in space for landfill sites, thereby, saving money and time. There is also a net saving in the quantum of resources required for producing of new and innovative products (Tchobanoglous et al., 2003).
During composting, which is a biological process, bacteria and fungi – micro-organisms – assist the conversion of biodegradable substances into other materials which look like humus. This process leads to a substance with the characteristics of a soil, which is rich in carbon and nitrogen and provides a medium for planting crops and trees. The composting process allows waste in kitchens to be put to good use as nutrients through recycling some useful substances in waste food and other materials. Composting combines the advantages of cleanliness, safety, cheapness, while markedly minimising the quantum of garbage intended for the rubbish bins. Compost material, which is an organic type of a fertilizer, may be used instead of chemical fertilizers mainly for the growing of vegetables. Another advantage of compost is its propensity to retain water, while making the soil relatively easy to cultivate. More importantly, the ability of the plant to retain nutrients is aided by compost (Mensah and Larbi, 2005). In general, the ambient conditions in Ghana are very suitable for composting.
2.4.3 Energy Recovery
This intervention is recovering useable energy such as heat, electricity, or fuel from waste materials that are to reuse and recycle, particularly plastics, through variety processes including combustion, gasification, anaerobic digestion, landfill gas recovery and pyrolization. Example solid waste can be combusted at very high temperatures which produces heat, that heat is used to convert water in to steam. That steam can be used to turn turbines to generate electricity (US EPA, 2012).
2.4.4 Treatment and Disposal
This intervention is the last of the various solid waste management options mentioned above .There are many different methods of disposing of solid waste in the world but the most common methods used in Ghana and other parts of Africa are landfill, open dumping and incineration. Landfill is the most common and probably accounts for more than 90 percent of the nation’s municipal refuse even though landfills have been proven contaminates of drinking water in certain areas. Landfills are constructed and operated to strict environmental standards, example the liners are designed in a way to protect the ground water.
2.5 Waste Management Indicators
Waste Management Indicators are variables that influence the performance of waste management operations. These indicators are mostly derived from literature and experts in the field of waste. From the contractual agreements ( signed between the WMD of KMA and the private waste management’s companies in the Kumasi Metropolis, performance indicators like the waste management activities and how they are suppose to execute it (ie. waste collection from house and communal dumpsite and disposal), operational capacity in terms of staffing, machinery and equipments are listed in it. Garcia-Sanchez (2007) also used street cleaning, waste collection and the treatment of solid waste as indicators on the performance of Spanish solid waste collection.
2.6 Theory of Waste Management
In industrialised nations the waste management practices evolved with the 1970’s focusing on reducing environmental impacts (Tanskanen, 2000). This was done by creating controlled landfill sites (Read, 2003), establishing waste transfer stations or redirecting waste collection vehicle routes (Truitt et al. 1969). The 1980’s and early 1990’s focused on new technological solutions for waste management while the mid 1990’s until today, the focus is on resource recovery (Read, 2003). In this regard recycling, incineration, composting and bioreactor treatment for energy and nutrient recovery methods are included in MSWM systems (Chang and Wei, 1999; MacDonald, 1996a).
Changes in waste management policies in recent times have shifted waste management planning from reliance on landfill towards Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) approaches (Read, 2003). New directives/legislations are being promulgated in the EU and the US on waste disposal in the interest of the environment. Examples among them are; the January 1st 2003 increase in tax to 370 Swedish Kronor per ton of landfilled waste in Sweden (RVF, 2003); and the 1993 United States’ Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D which requires landfills to be impermeably lined and equipped with leachate and gas collection equipment (Pacey, 1999). These policies and their enforcement have helped the developed nations in implementing the waste hierarchy; prevention, materials recovery, incineration and landfill. For instance the 1993 Government Action Plan on Waste and Recycling in Denmark set out to achieve targets of 54% recycling, 25% incineration and 21% landfill by the year 2000 (Sakai et al., 1996). In the developing world however, poor enforcement or non-existence of waste management policies have resulted in the dependence on open dumping. Improvements in the area of constructing sanitary landfills in these regions have most often been supported by the World Bank and other bilateral donor agencies (Johannessen and Boyer, 1999).
2.6.1 Waste Collection
The term waste collection includes not only the collection of solid waste from various sources but also the hauling of these wastes to the location where the contents of the collection vehicles are emptied (Tchobanoglous et al., 1993). Waste collection is also described as a component of waste management which results in the passage of waste materials from the source of production to either the point of treatment or final disposal site (Sampson, 2003).
The way and manner in which waste is collected in terms of vehicle types, capacities, staffing levels and round configuration depends on the nature of the collection. For example household / commercial, and the contractual arrangements put in place (working hours, disposal points, materials collected and receptacles used, e.g. black bag, wheelie-bin, orange sack).
According to Tchobanoglous et al. (1993), waste collection starts with the containers holding materials that a generator has designated as no longer useful and ends with the transportation of the solid waste to a location for processing or disposal. In high income areas, the private waste collection companies collect the waste directly from households with compactor trucks for dumping whiles in low and middle income areas, residents carry their waste to public waste containers provided by the Waste Management Department at communal collection points (Boadi and Kuitunen, 2003).
2.6.2 Waste Collection Service/Methods
Solid waste collection systems and methods in Kumasi are inadequate to cover a large part of the city, particularly, in poor squatter settlements, and inaccessible neighbourhood to collect all the expected waste to be generated in the cities (Boadi and Kuitunen, 2003). The principal types of waste collection methods are collecting co-mingle or non-separated waste at source and waste at source separated. Waste collection methods vary widely between different countries and regions. Domestic waste collection services are often provided by local government authorities, or by private industry. Developing countries do not have a formal waste-collection system even though these countries are now adopting some of the popular waste collection systems around the world. For instance in Australia, the curbside collection is the method of disposal of waste where every urban domestic household is provided with three bins: one for recyclables, another for general waste and another for garden materials. These bins are provided by the municipality if requested. In Ghana the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are responsible for the collection and final disposal of solid waste through their Waste Management Departments (WMDs) and their Environmental Health and Sanitation Departments (www.ghanadistrics.com, 2009).
There are two main types of waste collection services that are delivered by the private operators in the Kumasi Metropolis. These are house-to-house and communal collection services. Peter et al., (2009) asserted that the patronage of the house-to-house collection services in the Kumasi Metropolis increased from 2.1 per cent of the population in 1999 to 20.8 per cent in 2005. It was also observed that residents of the city are willing to patronize the service if satisfactory levels of service could be guaranteed.
2.6.3 Household and Commercial Waste Collection
Household wastes are generally generated from homes. They are gathered in waste bins, plastic or metal containers, plastic bags for collection by waste collector using a waste collection vehicle. The waste generated from households are carried to central waste collection point (transfer stations) where they would be loaded into a vehicle and either sent to a landfill site or to an alternative waste treatment facility. The amount of waste generated from households and commercial places far exceeds the volume collected. According to Boadi and Kuitunen (2003), 60% of the total waste generated in Accra is collected annually leaving the 40% uncollected. According to the Kumasi Waste Management Department (2009), and the private waste management companies in Kumasi, their inability to collect all the waste generated from the households and the commercial areas are as a result of poor road network within the city, inadequate waste collection containers and the frequent break down of bulldozers and compactors at the landfill site. According to Boadi and Kuitunen, (2003), households resort to alternative ways of disposing their waste. For instance in high income areas waste bins are not emptied in time forcing residence to hire individuals to dispose of the waste at the central collection points. In low income areas, the containers are not removed in time and this causes people to dump waste in unauthorized dumps such as canals, water bodies, and surface drains.
2.6.4 Logistics of Solid Waste Collection
Past methods of planning for and operating waste collection systems are under pressure, resulting from the need to improve the collection systems to protect the environment and public safety. Sampson (2003) stated in his report that waste collection and transport has significant environmental, health and safety implications as well as the economic cost due to the types of logistics that are used to collect and transport the waste. The total quantity of waste generation keeps increasing coupled with the nature and type of waste produced in our technological society gives the complexity of the type of logistics requires for the collection of waste. There are a number of barriers that limit efforts to improve the efficiency of waste collection logistics (Sampson, 2003). These are:
The inconsistent nature of waste production, with variations occurring on a weekly and seasonal basis and from street-to-street and region-to-region,
Access restrictions, meaning that not all properties can be serviced by the same vehicles,
Ineffective matching of vehicles to rounds, and
Variations in material delivery points over time, a situation that will arise more frequently as material reprocessing and delivery to new markets increases.
To improve the efficiency of waste collection logistics the following may be considered:
Raising the issue of logistics earlier in the planning phases of integrated waste management systems,
Phased introduction of new collection schemes such that transport problems can be addressed and costs more fully understood prior to full scheme adoption,
Partnership working, e.g. through shared depots,
Improved understanding of the capabilities of the asset-base,
Collection and use of operational performance data to inform future planning,
Effective periodic work scheduling and routing, and
Contingency planning, e.g. for unplanned closure of waste disposal facilities.
2.6.5 Methods of Waste Disposal
There are many different methods of disposing of solid waste in the world but the most common methods used in Ghana and other parts of Africa are landfill, open dumping and incineration. Landfill is the most common and probably accounts for more than 90 percent of the nation’s municipal refuse even though landfills have been proven contaminates of drinking water in certain areas. The most common methods of disposing solid waste are described below:
Landfill
Disposing of waste in landfill involves burying the waste in pits and this is the most common practice in most countries. It is the most cost effective method of disposal, with collection and transportation accounting for 75 percent of the total cost (Bassis, 2009). In a modern landfill, refuse is spread thin, compacted in layers and covered by a layer of clean earth. Pollution of surface water and groundwater is minimised by lining and contouring the fill, compacting and planting the uppermost cover layer, diverting drainage, and selecting proper sites not subject to flooding or high groundwater levels. The best soil for a landfill is clay because clay is less permeable than other types of soil (Mensa and Larbi, 2005). Materials disposed off in a landfill can be further secured from leakages by solidifying them in materials such as cement, fly ash from power plants, asphalt, or organic polymers.
A properly-designed and well-managed landfill can be a hygienic and relatively inexpensive method of disposing of waste materials. Older, poorly-designed or poorly-managed landfills can create a number of adverse environmental impacts such as wind-blown litter and generation of liquid leachate. Another common by-product of landfills is gas (mostly composed of methane and carbon dioxide), which is produced as a result of anaerobic break down of organic waste. This gas can create odour problems, kill surface vegetation, and is a greenhouse gas
Open dumping
Open dumps was a popular method of waste disposal in the early parts of the 20th century. This involved disposing the waste in open dumps without any cover or protection. Dumps were usually located in areas where there was land in abundance. A common site for open dumps is abandoned mines, quarries, swamps and hillsides. The waste is usually piled up as long as the equipments being used can manage to move in and out of the dumpsite. Open dumps are popular in developing countries as a means of waste disposal (Tchobanoglous et al., 1993). It is practised in the households on a smaller scale and periodically burned to reduce the volume of waste and in some instances it is levelled and compacted. This is a common practice in Ghana.
Incineration
Incineration is another method of solid waste disposal. Incineration is a method of burning waste that is combustible at high temperatures in the range of 1000 degrees Celsius in other to reduce the waste to ashes. Incineration is more expensive but a safer method of disposal than landfills (Bassis, 2009). Modern incinerators are designed to destroy at least 99.9% of the organic waste material they handle. Garbage burned in incinerators can poison air, soil, and water. Incineration converts waste materials in to heat, gas, steam and ash. Communities near incinerators have objected to them because of fears about possible emissions of gaseous pollutants (Bach et al., 2009).
The national policy in Ghana endorses the putting in place of miniaturized plants for incinerating hazardous and health care wastes. Comparatively small incinerating plants have been built as part of the health provision infrastructure in most of the towns having health facilities in the country. The incinerators, which are very simplistic in construction, are made up of cement, clay bricks and metal. These incinerators are usually fired by woodfuel and are easily operated and maintained by the health staff of the District Assemblies. It worthy of note these local incinerators do not have the requisite environmental controls (Mensah and Larbi, 2005).
Recycling methods
Recycling is converting used and discarded materials into new products. This is a form o f reduction of waste disposed, resulting in cleaner environment and also yielding in fresher air to breathe (Lave et al., 1999). Waste recycling has some significant advantages such as minimal use of raw materials, reducing imparts on environment, arising from waste treatment and disposal and makes the surroundings cleaner and healthier. Additionally saves on landfill space, money, and reducing the quantity of energy needed to manufacture new products (Tchobanoglous et al.., 1993).
A large number of the waste generated in our houses can be recycled and reused. Organic kitchen waste such as leftover foodstuff, vegetable peels, and spoilt or dried fruits and vegetables can be recycled by putting them in the compost pits that have been dug in the garden. Old newspapers, magazines and bottles can be sold to the man who buys these items from homes (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2007).
Composting
Composting is a biological process in which micro-organisms, mainly fungi and bacteria, convert degradable organic waste into humus-like substance. This finished product, which looks like soil, is high in carbon and nitrogen and is an excellent medium for growing plants. The process of composting ensures that the waste produced in the kitchens is not carelessly thrown and left to rot. It recycles the nutrients and returns them to the soil as nutrients. Apart from being clean, cheap, and safe, composting can significantly reduce the amount of disposable garbage. The organic fertilizer can be used instead of chemical fertilizers and is better when used for vegetables. It increases the soil’s ability to hold water and makes the soil easier to cultivate. It helps the soil to retain more of the plant nutrients (Mensah and Larbi, 2005). Generally, conditions in Ghana are very conducive for composting in terms of the waste composition and weather conditions. However, composting has never flourished as an option for refuse treatment and disposal. Most local authorities feel, based on local experience, that the running costs of composting plants are excessive and unjustifiable (Mensah and Larbi, 2005). The only known large composting plant in Ghana was built with external donor support and commissioned in the early 1980s. During its early years of operation the plant was useful in helping reduce the volume of waste. However, high maintenance costs adversely affected its sustainability. In the last few years most of the mechanical components have been decommissioned and the plant currently operates only for demonstration purposes.
2.7 Waste Costing
2.7.1 Environmental Costs
Additionally, there is attraction of insects and rodents, which provides a haven for yellow fever, the plague, gastrointestinal parasites, worms, and various adverse human conditions. Several diseases, as well as cancers are caused by exposing humans to wastes resulting from the burnt rodents and insects.
Waste can contaminate surface water, groundwater, soil, and air, which causes more problems for humans, other species, and ecosystems. (Diaz et al., 2006) Waste treatment and disposal produces significant green house gas (GHG) emissions, notably methane, and contributes significantly to global climate change (International Waste Activities, 2003).
2.7.2 Social Costs
Waste management is a significant environmental justice issue. Many of the environmental burdens cited above are more often borne by marginalized groups, such as racial minorities, women, and residents of developing nations. NIMBY (not-in-my-back-yard) is a popular term used to describe the opposition of residents to a proposal for a new development close to them (Wolsink, 1994). However, the need for expansion and siting of waste treatment and disposal facilities is increasing worldwide. There is now a growing market in the transboundary movement of waste, and although most waste that flows between countries goes between developed nations, a significant amount of waste is moved from developed to developing nations (Ray, 2008).
2.7.3 Economic Costs
The costs of managing waste are relatively high, and the cost is often beared by governments (Muck and Brass, 2009). Cost of operation can be reduced by efficiently designed collection routes, modifying vehicles, and with public education. Environmental policies such as pay as you dump can reduce the cost of management and reduce waste quantities. Waste recovery (that is, recycling, reuse) can be reduce economic costs because it avoids extracting raw materials and often cuts transportation costs (Carlsson Reich, 2005). The location of waste treatment and disposal facilities often has an impact on property values due to dust, noise, pollution, unsightliness, and negative stigma. The unrecognised sector consists normally the pickers of waste who scavenge for plastics, glass, metals, textiles etc for sale. These scavengers can significantly change or reduce waste collected, but there are alot of challenges that comes into play, example abuse of workers and exploitation, poverty, disease, (Wilson et al., 2006).
2.8 Overview of Solid Waste Management in Ghana
The 2000 Housing and Population Census reports that on the national level, 4.8% of households have their solid waste collected directly from their dwelling, 7.9% burn their household refuse, 57.6% use various household receptacles for storage and send it to designated public dumps including communal-container stations or sanitary sites. It is reported that 25.9% of households dump their refuse at unspecified locations including vacant lots, drains, embankment of water courses, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
Principally, there are two solid waste collection systems in Ghana – door to door collection system which takes place in the low density areas of the urban centres, and communal collection system in the high density areas. There is some amount of pre-collection in areas of poor accessibility based on the use of Manual and Motorized Tricycles introduced by Zoomlion. Waste disposal in Ghana is mainly by landfilling and currently the country can boast of only two Sanitary Landfill facilities located in Kumasi and Tamale. Two others are under construction in Sekondi-Takoradi and Tema. The other cities and towns depend on dumpsites for their waste disposal. Other systems such as incineration, waste to energy, anaerobic digestion, etc have so far remained at exploratory stages, with the exception of composting which is at the implementation stage at Zoomlion (Agyepong, 2011). Engineered landfills are constructed to meet specific environmental standards including low permeability clay liner and natural flow (gravity based) leachate management (Boyer and Johannessen, 2010).
The first Waste Management Department (WMD), Accra Metropolitan Authority’s – WMD, was inaugurated in 1985 with the conversion of the then Mechanical Engineers Department which was solely responsible for managing the workshop for vehicle/equipment repair and maintenance to include solid waste collection and disposal services. The Kumasi Metropolitan Authority’s Waste Management Department (KMA-WMD) followed in 1992 with the assistance of the UNDP-Kumasi Sanitation Project. The Overseas Development Association, ODA (now DFID) of the UK also provided vehicles, machinery and equipment under the Kumasi Solid Waste Disposal project (1992 – 1995) (Salifu, 2011).
2.9.1 National Environmental Sanitation Policy
The Environmental Sanitation Policy is aimed at developing and maintaining a clean, safe and pleasant physical environment in all human settlements, to promote the social, economic and physical well-being of all sections of the population. It comprises a number of complementary activities, including the construction and maintenance of sanitary infrastructure, the provision of services, public education, community and individual action, regulation and legislation (MLGRD, 1999).
The Policy also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Community and Individuals. Ensuring good environmental sanitation is the responsibility of all citizens, communities, private sector, enterprises, NGOs and government institutions. All these actors have an essential part to play in maintaining a high standard of environmental sanitation. The policy indicates that, every individual, establishment or institution shall be responsible for:
Cleansing within and in the immediate environs of the property they occupy, including access ways and the drains and roads abutting the property;
Temporary storage of wastes within the property and disposal thereof outside the property, as may be directed by the competent authority;
Taking measures to prevent the breeding of disease vectors within and in the immediate environs of the property they occupy;
Ensuring that the wider environment is not polluted or otherwise adversely affected by their activities;
Hygienically disposing of all wastes they generate in public areas by use of an authorised public toilet or solid waste container as appropriate;
Participating in all communal environmental sanitation exercises organised by the community or its representatives (MLGRD, 1999).
The policy also entrusts in the Assemblies the power to promulgate bye-laws and regulations to help in their environmental sanitation management process. To complement these efforts, the Judiciary is expected to establish and empower Community Tribunals to prosecute offenders against environmental sanitation bye-laws and regulations (MLGRD, 1999). This is a clear opportunity for KMA to enact strict environmental sanitation bye-laws to make the city inhabitants responsible for environmental sanitation in Kumasi to ensure good environmental sanitation practices.
2.8.2 Environmental Sanitation Bye-Laws in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area
Sound environmental law and governance are essential for protecting the natural environment and the life and livelihoods that depend on it. Governance here refers to the Assembly’s use of a range of legal tools to require or promote desired behaviour. These tools could be traditional regulations, environmental assessments, information disclosure requirements, market mechanisms, economic incentives, or public policies to promote voluntary action on a scale that will enhance urban environmental sanitation and environmental protection. The summary of the Bye-laws includes the following:
Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (House Owners and Occupier) Bye-Laws, 1995. – This bye-law defines the responsibilities of house owners, property owners, tenants or other occupants in keeping their immediate environment clean. It also prescribes the punishment that should be meted out with offenders of the bye-laws.
Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (Sanitation) Bye-Laws, 1995. – This bye-law also covers general sanitation or hygiene. It describes what constitutes a sanitation offence and what should not be done by both property owners and pedestrians to cause pollution in the city.
Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (Cleansing) Bye-Laws, 1995 – The cleansing bye-law regulates activities that promote visual pollution and nuisances and prescribes penalties for such offences.
2.9 Challenges of Waste Management – Private-Sector Participation as Remedy
Before 1995 solid waste management in Ghana was run purely as a government monopoly (Post et al., 2003). However the government was failing to adequately address the sanitary needs of its citizens and failures in public servicing opened the domain to various modes of public-private cooperation (Thompson, 2010).
The formal engagement of private sector in routine services, commenced seriously with the privatization of cesspit emptying services in Kumasi. It was a logical next-step to formalize private-sector involvement in solid waste management as well. And so in carrying out the Urban Environment Review, in 1994, with support from the World Bank, the issue of addressing institutional roles was given much importance. The urban review which led to the preparation of the first-phase of the Urban Environmental Sanitation Project (UESPI) which is in its second phase (UESPII) influenced the piloting of franchise zones for solid waste services in Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale. The intention was for an incremental expansion of zones to eventually cover the whole of each city – which is largely the arrangement we see today (Salifu, 2011).
In a presentation made at a UN conference on building partnerships for moving towards zero waste, Agyepong (2011) outlined some issues identified by private operator(s) as barriers to private-sector-participation or public-private-partnerships which included; proliferation of legislation that entrenches public-monopoly of delivery of services, wrong attitudes of the general public to solid waste disposal, sustainable financing, poor planning and rapid urbanization, weak human resource capacity and research support base, and politics.
According to Salifu (2011) as part of the solid waste management improvement services of the five largest cities in Ghana UESP1 implemented an elaborate scheme for private sector involvement. Subsequent adoption of franchise management for the collection of solid waste meant to start on pilot basis was replaced with the introduction of the City and Country Waste Limited city-wide contracting initiative in Accra by AMA. The bottlenecks of the both the franchise system and contract mode of service delivery has included:
The laws declaring such franchise or contract zones were merely announced without the corresponding gazeted bye-laws backing these declarations;
The capacity of private operators to collect the fees (under franchise);
Where pockets of communal-storage containers at public places like markets and lorry parks are within the franchise zones, costs of these were still to be borne by MMDAs through their IGFs, with high default rates of payment of contractors – in some instances up to 6 months;
Poor collection routines by private operators that eroded confidence of residents;
Start-up pilot zones gave the impression of an experiment, particularly when collection by the city’s own side-loading truck (in the case of Kumasi) was still going on in areas where fee-collection was left to drivers and operatives;