Household knowledge, attitudes and practices in solid waste segregation and management: a study in eravur urban council area, batticaloa district

Abstract

Solid waste has become a critical issue with increasing population creating a negative impact on environment. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes and practices in solid waste segregation and management in Eravur Urban Council. Proportionate sampling was done and from five Grama Niladhari divisions a total of 100 households were studied. It was found that average quantity of solid waste generated by households was 2.61 kg/day. Food wastes topped the list where every household generated 2.06kg of food waste per day. Food wastes were disposed by several methods such as disposal in urban council truck (30.35%), fed to animals (29.46%) and buried in their home (25.89%).Yard wastes, plastics, paper, metals and glass wastes were mostly disposed by households through the existing Urban Council collection service. Only 0.93% of the household reused the paper. Eravur-01B households generated the highest average quantity (3.17kg/ household /day) of solid waste among all five GN divisions in the Eravur Urban Council. It was also found that 82% of the household heads believed that the burning of waste makes health risk. 98% of the household heads concerned about disease (Eg: Dengue, Malaria) that were related to improper storage and disposal method of waste. About 84% of the household were concerned about the service that provided by Urban Council. Public education and teaching in school about waste management took the big responsibility to control the waste blooming in Eravur Urban Council area. 18% of the household heads were not worried about the waste disposal because of their personal issues like unemployment and high cost of living etc. It is recommended that the households must be educated with proper solid waste management practices and the government must intensify its proper solid waste management education to increase the awareness and knowledge level of households on the collection service.