Waste Management In Egerton

INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES TOWARD THE REALIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN EGERTON AND ITS ENVIRONS

BY

DR. JOHN MIRONGA

DR. WILKISTER MOTURI

ALICE JEBIWOTT (NM12/3714/13)

DOUGLAS VIGEDI (NM12/3716/13)

FELLY ESILABA (NM15/3685/13)

MUNYALA MWALO

MARTIN NJOROGE

Introduction

The United Nations conference on environment and development was held in Rio de Janeiro where a programme for action for sustainable development was adopted. The main objectives of the conferences were to safeguard political commitment to sustainable development; assess the progress and gaps to realizing sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges (UN, 2012). Environmental management is the adoption of all

Unsustainable production and consumption patterns coupled with non-existent waste management systems are among the notable environmental challenges experienced in these areas. At the core of the problems is solid waste management. Solid waste that is generated is disposed in the few designated dumpsites available which are full and some overflowing to the river and drainage systems posing danger to vast ecosystems. This situation is exacerbated by the growing population and the unplanned peri-urban development that is currently taking place, most of which is influenced by the increased University intakes. Moreover, government policies on the environment are a piecemeal where they exist, and are poorly implemented. Public enlightenment programs lack the needed coverage, intensity, and continuity to correct the apathetic public attitude towards the environment. Solid waste management is the most pressing environmental challenge faced by urban and rural areas. Despite a host of policies and regulations, solid waste management in the country is assuming alarming proportions with each passing day. Most of the wastes are generated by households and in some cases, by local businesses, University fraternity, artisans and traders who litter the immediate surroundings. Improper collection and disposal of wastes is leading to an environmental catastrophe as the area currently lack adequate systems for the implementation of

Of particular concern are the communities who dispose waste indiscriminately unaware of the dangers they pose to the environment and to their health. This deserves not only the attention of learning and research institutions but also concerns of corporate organizations and individuals to find a lasting solution to the problem. This is because there is continued production of waste with increase in population, which means immense environmental degradation and deterioration of human health, especially since there is no proper waste management system in place. The challenge is to eliminate the health and environmental risks by overcoming the problem of indiscriminate dumping by the communities. Therefore, the study aims to explore appropriate strategies and recommendations of clearing waste in all parts in and around the University in a sustainable manner. This will be done by creating awareness and instilling sound waste disposal practices throughout the family level and the broader community. Furthermore, there is need to develop a waste management system that will convert the waste into useful materials through reuse, recycling and