THE IMPACT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ON EMPLOYMENT CREATION. A CASE STUDY OF BISONS SOLID WASTE

MANAGEMENT COMPANY, JINJA MUNICIPALITY,

JINJA DISTRICT

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in Bisons Solid waste management company. The specific objectives of the study were; to determine the effect of recycling process on employment creation and to investigate the influence of solid waste collection and transportation on employment creation.

The research data and findings were obtained using mainly primary data sources but secondary data sources were also used to collected information especially for the literature review. The primary data collection methods that were used include questionnaires and interview guide. Secondary data sources included textbooks, news letters, news supplements reports and internet sources among others.

The study found out that (75%) of the respondents indicated that recycling process has created more jobs and the least number (25%) of the respondents said recycling process has good paying jobs. Jinja municipality together with the support provided by Bisons have a number of income generating activity initiatives were being practiced by the local community on a small scale while others were solely individual efforts without any kind of support. Among them included making of briquettes from waste, art and craft, artisan and metal works, collection and transportation of solid waste and lastly waste picking and collection.

The study concluded that the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in Jinja are the responsibility of Municipalities and its agents or appointed private collectors (such as Bisons). There is great potential in income generation which is untapped regarding solid waste as art and craft, briquette making, artisan and metal works, garbage transportation and waste picking. Many people in Jinja municipality have been employed in solid waste management such as drivers, collectors, mobilisers and others in managerial positions. Therefore, as a result of recycling process, solid waste collection and transportation, many jobs have been created in Jinja municipality.

It was recommended that special attention should be put to a) the amount of levied depending on the amount of solid waste generated, b) community sensitization about this levy and solid waste responsibilities, and c) accountability for the levy collected.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

This chapter presents the background of the study, problem statement, purpose of the study, specific objectives, research questions and significance of the study.

1.1 Background to the study

Urban solid waste management is considered to be one of the most serious environmental problems confronting developing countries [Sinha and Enayetullah, 2000] and Jinja Town in Uganda is no exception. Economic implosion in Uganda has resulted in high levels of unemployment estimated at 80% [Kairiza, 2009]. This has led to the growth of home industries and high density suburbs. Solid waste generation in these suburbs is very high given their spatial extent and population. This is putting much pressure on the waste disposal system in place and as a result a lot of waste is left uncollected creating a health hazard.

Waste management refers to the collection, transport, recovery, and disposal of waste, including the supervision of such operations and after-care of disposal sites. It concerns itself with the existing amount of waste, trying to minimize the human-waste or environment-waste interface and to minimize potential impact (Rushbrook, 1999).

Generally, in developing countries the population of people and urbanization rate is becoming high with East Africa and Uganda not an exception. Additionally, the urban dwellers consume more resources than rural people and hence generate large quantities of solid waste and sewage. Thus the problems and issues related to municipal solid waste management have been of immediate significance.

There are an estimated 5,700 to 11,300 waste-related jobs within the European. Up to 5,000 jobs may have been created in solid waste management in 1994 (Arnold, 1995). For the United Kingdom, if an ambitious but achievable recycling target of 70% for municipal waste was set and achieved by 2025, then conservative estimates suggest that across the UK this could create 29,400 new direct jobs in recycling, 14,700 indirect jobs in supply chains and 7,300 induced jobs in the wider economy relative to 2006.

Uganda is facing rapid urbanization of 5.1% per annum, leading to overcrowding and the development of slums and informal settlements with poor waste management practices. Urban dwellers generally consume more resources than rural dwellers, and so generate large quantities of solid waste and sewage. Waste management in these areas is hampered by multiple land tenure system with many tenants not having a right to the land and therefore not able to manage waste domestically and also the urban authorities are overwhelmed by the sheer volumes of garbage generated (Nyakaana, 2009). The increase in urban, economic and industrial activities, as well as the resultant population increase has led to an increase in the quantity of solid waste generated. One method employed in collecting data included field trips to dump sites which are used by the Kampala City Council (KCC) in Kampala.

Urban local government authorities in Uganda are responsible for solid waste management services. They however lack adequate infrastructure, operate in an insufficient institutional setup, and have limited financial and technical resources. Bisons Solid waste management company. steps in to bridge this gap by providing the following services which are customized to client’s specification and need; Commercial Waste Collection, Bisons provides collection, handling and transportation of waste for commercial clients. This ranges from: Industrial Waste Management, Radioactive waste management, Tar (from fuel processing, Nuclear Liability Management (NLM). The company also does domestic waste collection; the service includes door-to-door collection services, which involves removing refuse from household placed in bags or tied in bundles on a weekly basis, removal of illegal dumping, street cleaning and all efforts are undertaken to prevent illegal dumping through educational programmes and interaction with the community. House to house, one to one or community talks and workshops. Also waste from health care activities (radioactive waste); the waste produced in the course of health care activities carries a higher potential for infection and injury than any other types of waste. Inadequate handling and disposal of healthcare waste may have very serious public health care consequences and very significant impacts on environment (Nyakana, 2009).

Within the field of solid waste management, there has been considerable debate on the employment effects that may occur from shifts in policy. It has been argued that recycling and other solid waste management activities create employment, and in particular may provide initial routes into employment for the socially excluded or the low skilled. At the same time, the increased cost of solid waste management may lead to the loss of (potentially higher quality) jobs in other sectors of the economy (Zake, 2009). This study was commissioned in response to the above background, to establish the impact of solid waste management on employment creation.

1.2 Problem Statement

Uganda is facing rapid urbanization of 5.1% per annum, leading to overcrowding and the development of slums and informal settlements with poor waste management practices. Urban dwellers generally consume more resources than rural dwellers, and so generate large quantities of solid waste and sewage (Tenywa, 2007). In Kampala, just like in most other urban centers in developing countries, material considered refuse by western standards is re¬used (Sharon, 1993; Douglas, 1986). For example, old tires are made into sandals (lugabire), old tin containers into paraffin candle holders (tadoba), plastic containers into feeding troughs for chicken and scrap metal is fabricated into household utensils like charcoal stoves (sigiri) metal doors and windows. Paper is recycled into toilet tissue and wrapping paper. In Kyebando (Kawempe Division), the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) began a project of recycling used paper to make envelopes and plain paper, and they design greeting cards in their appropriate technology program (Basemera, 1996). A lot of scrap metal is recycled industrially at the Jinja steel rolling mills and the Nakawa scrap metal facility. Today, green vegetable matter, like banana peels, pineapple and cabbage stamps, and food leftovers are collected to sell to farmers, especially those keeping pigs and cattle. This has created considerable employment opportunities for the young. Several companies such as Bisons Solid Waste Management Company and others have been put in place to collect waste and as a result people have been employed both educated and uneducated to ensure that the company activities are executed. Despite, its existence unemployment levels in Jinja Municipality still remain high. This study sought to establish the impact of solid waste management on employment creation.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The following were the objectives of this study

1.3.1 General objective

To establish the impact of solid waste management on employment creation. A case study of Bisons Solid waste management company.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

The specific objectives included;

• To determine the effect of recycling process on employment creation.
• To investigate the influence of solid waste collection and transportation on employment creation.

1.4 Research Questions

• What is the effect of recycling process on employment creation?
• What is the influence of solid waste collection and transportation on employment creation?

1.5 Scope of the study

1.5.1 Content scope

The study established the impact of solid waste management on employment creation. Specific emphasis was put on determining the effect of recycling process, solid waste collection and transportation on employment creation.

1.5.2 Geographical scope

The study was carried out in Bisons Solid waste management company because it has the tender to do solid waste management activities in Jinja municipality.

1.5.3 Time scope

The study was carried out for a period between February to September, 2017.

1.6 Significance of the study

• The findings of the study would also highlight the roles of different stakeholders and extent to which they have to be active in waste management practices. Therefore, partners in this development could use the information in identification of income opportunities related to solid waste management
• Additionally community and authority would gain information about their solid waste management and hence provoking a debate which will act as a tool towards the best priority towards solid waste management
• If s hoped that the study would generate knowledge for future development of the company.
• It also hoped that the study would be a referential to other researchers.

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

This chapter describes the literature related to the subject based on the specific research objectives.

2.1 Solid Waste

2.1.1 Types and nature of solid waste

The MSW management problems differ from one place to another depending on the level of urbanization, industrialization and population. In most developing countries Uganda inclusive, the composition of the MSW generated is quite different from that of the developed countries. Generally developed countries produce more MSW estimated between 0.⁷ to 1.8 kg per person/ day than developing countries 0.4 to 06 kg/ person /day (Elight and Mbadc, 1996). Therefore, it’s important to know the nature and composition as well as types of MSW generated, the individual, public and environmental issues related to particular or MSW Type and nature, understand the political and economic framework of government in which the government is operating before one can examine the possible strategies, options, opportunities for MSW Management.

2.1.2    Major sources of municipal solid waste

Industrial waste that ends up in MSW streams like packaging materials like tins, cavera’s (polythene bags) and papers. This takes many forms of combustible, non- combustible, biodegradable and non- biodegradable wastes. Typically they include both processed and non-processed waste. The non-processed waste is where office waste and packaging ‘waste are categorized. Processed wastes are mainly upon products manufactured which end up being dumped in the environment after their lifespan expires like spoilt food, metal wastes (scraps), rubber wastes, plastic wastes, environmental chemists also classified mining waste, under this category (Ajayi. 2008).

According to Bramley & Ellwood (2009), wastes from household activities like food wastes, both during and after cooking processes, wasted papers, plastics, metals, rugs among others from our daily activities that required to be disposed-off.

CASCADIA (2009) states that commercial sources include garbage’s and rubbish from households, offices, hotels and restaurants, bars, happening places, markets, street sweeping and leaves. Garbage is referred to biodegradable mainly food wastes and papers. Combustible waste includes papers, tires, clothes, while some are non- combustible like glasses, metals, cans and containers. Additionally, a part from the above commercial waste, the following SW may be encountered like ashes, dead animals, abandoned vehicles, construction and demolition wastes, septic tanks sludge’s, pipes, wires and other electronics.

Agricultural wastes: this is as a result of farm feeds, livestock wastes like cow dung, ash and baggose from sugarcane, slaughter house, marine and house waste (Anderson, 2008).

Special waste/ Hazardous waste: these are hazardous in nature and need special care and precaution and well personal protective equipment while dealing with them. They include radioactive waste from power plants, laboratory and hospitals, toxic substance like heavy metals sludge, pesticides and pharmaceuticals and miscellaneous waste like inflammable, corrosive, explosive and security waste (Anderson, 2008).

2.2 The effect of recycling process on employment creation

The economic and employment benefits associated with sorting, reprocessing and recycling, in comparison to incineration or disposal to landfill, have been highlighted by a number of studies from the US (CASCADIA, 2009) and in the UK (Gray, 2002; WRAP, 2006; WRAP, 2009).

Recyclers: this is another component of informal private sector that include both the micro and the small scale recycling companies, they converts recovered waste materials like paper, aluminum, animal by-products, plastics scrap metals etc. to valuable materials and. raw materials for the consumption of the industrial sector. The recycling sector is a multi-mi llion-naira investment, where some specialized equipment and machines are to be used for the conversion of the recovered items to finished products or raw materials that are also used in several other applications but in this case of battery recycling its process is crude and unhealthy. For instance a company in south western part of the state uses the material s(battery plastic) to produce recycled plastic pellets used in further production of new plastic product like; hangers, toys, plastic horse and also there are many of these recycler in Ibadan that used the materials (battery components) to produce lead through burning which is in very high demand; the pellet which is being used in several other application for the production of new plastic products like shoe soles, conduit pipe etc., it is also an exportable commodity for international market. Some of these recycled products and raw materials are exportable products through which foreign exchange is obtained. These industries provide more than one thousand job opportunities for different cadre of work force (Habeeb, 2014).

Although landfilling and incineration still involve larger volumes, recycling now generates more than twice the revenue of the waste management industry because recycling recovers greater economic value bound up in discarded products and equipment. Although none of the available studies is directly comparable (definitions of the recycling sector and methodologies having evolved as issues emerged during industry critiques of early studies), they have consistently shown that per tonne of material processed, recycling provides approximately ten times more jobs than landfilling and incineration (Gray, 2002).

A recent study by the Scottish Executive (Scottish Executive, 2010) summarised in suggests that employment in solid waste management in Local Authority, private, community, consultancy and government sectors in Scotland was about 8,000 jobs in 2004/6 having grown from about 4,600 in 1998 with a turnover of about £454 million in 2004. The study suggests that some 1,446 jobs were created in local authorities from 2003 to 2006. Collection and disposal makes up most of the employment (approximately 2,600 employees in 2004), followed by non-scrap recycling (600) and scrap recycling (500).

Employment in recycling has remained constant over the review period whilst employment in disposal activities has grown by 2,000. The waste management industry spent £230 million in 2004 on goods, materials and services. Capital expenditure has risen by over 300% since 1998. Using information from the Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS), the study shows that as well as full time jobs the sector provides 970 training placements and over 3.200 voluntary positions.

An Input-Output analysis of the Scottish economy (Scottish Executive, 2009) shows that for every 100 jobs created in the recycling sector, 36 indirect jobs was created in the supply chain and a further 27 induced jobs was created as a result of employees in these businesses spending their wages in Scotland.

Kim (2009) observed that for successful improvement of communities in SWM, it must not only address the needs for improving the environment but should also provide income generating opportunities so as to a strong link bond can exist between improving the MSW management and the community. Together with the support from NGOs as well as community based organization, this will promote internal solidarity around the shared concerns that will in turn result into increasing pressure towards demanding accountability by all stakeholders involved towards improving municipal solid waste management.

A single fact of MSW management technique is recycling. This is usually taken as a survival strategy alongside reuse of refuse by the poor. Recycling and reuse tend to reduce the quantity of waste to be disposed off but also is a stepping stone towards pollution control. Additionally recycling help to employ the urban poor and thus they can earn income like through popular scrap (refuse recyclable material) selling hence this will indirectly improve on the urban MSW state. A typical example is plastic bottles recycling. Reuse on the other hand enables the urban poor to survive on the waste material by urban rich. This act reduce waste accumulation into MSW streams but also tend to help the urban poor to met their basic requirements of life and thus therefore recycling and reuse indeed should be integrated in SWM in away that the urban poor/ community can benefit form waste management strategies and options through employment.

However, in spite of the above environmental and social benefits of waste recycling and waste reuse, it does come with negative impacts like exploitation of waste collectors, by waste buyers, poor health and safety working conditions for urban poor that deals in waste collection. (Furedy 1992) thus there is need for improvement of employment conditions as well as access to support services as well as enhancing markets improvement for the recyclable waste. Kim however argued that there is risk of formalizing the sector since it would alienate the urban poor that depend on the sector for livelihood. Thus waste picking is already a highly recognized activity towards SWM.

In Kampala, just like in most other urban centers in developing countries, material considered refuse by western standards is re-used (Sharon, 1993; Douglas, 1986). For example, old tires are made into sandals (lugabire), old tin containers into paraffin candle holders (tadoba). plastic containers into feeding troughs for chicken and scrap metal is fabricated into household utensils like charcoal stoves (sigiri) metal doors and windows. Paper is recycled into toilet tissue and wrapping paper. In Kyebando (Kawempe Division), the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) began a project of recycling used paper to make envelopes and plain paper, and they design greeting cards in their appropriate technology program (Basemera, .1996).

A recent study (WRAP and REalliance, 2009) found that nearly 700 English civil society organisations are involved in ‘resource recovery’ activities – mainly of furniture, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), bicycles, wood, hand tools and paint to create jobs and training opportunities, provide goods to people who need them, and support community development. The survey found that these social enterprises and third sector bodies had a turnover of £133.8 million and handled nearly 0.25 million tonnes of material in 2008/9. Their activities have shifted from kerbside collection activities to repair and reuse of some 76,000 tonnes of bulky waste by 2008/09 – more than double 2005 levels. They provide an estimated 4,600 FTE jobs in resource recovery (an average of about 8 staff per organisation providing 6.6 FTE jobs) and jointly provide 43,500 opportunities for training and volunteering. In addition these organisations generate a considerable social multiplier: every £1 given to a local voluntary reuse charity organisation to run the bulky waste collection service is estimated to generate a total of £5.32 of social benefits locally (Anderson el al. 2008).

The UK generated 33.4 million tonnes of municipal waste in 2008, of which 12.2 million tonnes (36.8%) was recycled (Defra, 2010a; SEPA, 2010; Welsh Assembly Government, 2010a; Northern Ireland Environment Agency, 2010). Best available data from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) 2008 (ONS, 2010) suggests that this in turn generated about I 18,000 jobs in waste management businesses (including collection, recycling and sale for reuse of recyclable materials) of which 91,000 were in waste treatment, collection and disposal.

The sector has seen continuous growth from 47,000 in 1998 but changes in the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes have produced inconsistencies in the data. Data do not include the remanufacturing sector – such a large contributor in the US – but do include wider waste collection and disposal. A previous study (Waste Watch, 1999) estimated that -including 500 jobs in the third sector – the collection, sorting and reprocessing of household recyclable materials accounted for 17,400 jobs in 1999, equivalent to about a third of the total waste management sector (ONS, 2010).

Cart pushers: these are the group of informal private sector involved in the Door-Door domestics waste Collection at a fee, using specially built carts build by another sector called Cart builder. Their presence in the waste industry is due to the ineffectiveness and inadequacy of the government owned agencies responsible for the collection, transportation, and the disposal of domestic waste. At a stage, they were collecting over 60% of the total domestics waste generated in the State, this they do by house-house collection and transportation of the collected waste to transfer bins strategically placed by government agency and then pay a total amount of N200($1.20) to the government official for any quantity of waste on any each trip (Habeed, 2014).

This collection of people is also involved in waste recovery; as they go from house-to-house collecting waste at an agreed fee, they also sort and recover reusable and recyclable materials from the waste before disposing the residue. The non-formalization of the activities of the group has made it almost impossible to have accurate data/records of their activities within the waste management industry. However, they cart away several hundred tons of domestic waste per day and make an average of Four thousand, eight hundred naira (US $30.00) per day, whereas the average basic salary of government staff is about Twelve to thirteen thousand, five hundred naira (US $76.69) per month (Lukman, 2014).

Scavengers are involved in both on-site and off-site waste/resource recovery, they recover re­usable and recyclables materials like plastics, Aluminum, glass, waste tire, Dunlop slippers, paper, scraps metal, animal wastes like horn, bones (Ajani, 2008). Some of them go from door-to- door to recover re-usable and recyclable materials from the waste bin placed on the front-side of buildings, and even some go into the stream searching for metallic waste through the use of a magnet and they do this every day and most especially in the rainy season. While majority limit their operation to the waste brought to the disposal sites.

In some cases, the scavengers also process some of the recovered waste before selling either to the resource merchants or directly to the recycling industries. The processes include washing, burning, etc. Scavengers try to sort their recovered waste and prepare to burn recovered electrical cables/wires to retrieve copper. Majority of the scavengers live in a shanties or makeshift houses built on and around the disposal sites and also shows an aerial view of the scavengers removing electrical wire from metallic plate at one of the merchant dump-site and scavenger find metallic particles in the stream and later take it to the resource merchant to weigh and get paid (Ajani, 2008).

Resource merchants: this group is made up of traders (merchants) involved in the purchase of all recovered recyclable and re-usable materials from the scavengers and before the payment could be approve to the scavenger the materials would have been weighed to determine the quantity and weight of the material. Some members of this group are retired scavengers who cannot scout for materials on the site again due to either age or advancement in financial capability. They are so rich that some of them are involved in the exportation of some of the recovered resources to other countries thereby earning foreign exchange; they are also very influential that they get Local Purchasing Orders (LPOs) from companies to supply recovered materials (Habeeb, 2014).

2.3 Conclusion

The role played by all the branches that is involved in effective integrated solid waste management are all sources of employment opportunities, job creation, wealth creation, and distribution, foreign exchange earnings, poverty alleviation and reduction with environmental sustenance through reduction in the quantity of waste to be landfill. In line with United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) of sustainable improvement of the environment and reduction of world poverty rate to half by year 2015.

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

This chapter explains the research design, data type and sources, simple size and selection, data collection tools/methods, data presentation and analysis, data collection procedure and limitation of the study.

3.1 Research Design

The research design was descriptive in nature where both qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection were adopted. Qualitative research design helps to capture qualitative data, based on qualitative aspects that cannot be quantified. It aids in discovering the motives and desires or what people think and how they feel about a given subject or situation. Qualitative approach was used to develop sub themes to back up the quantitative data. A quantitative approach of data collection was used for this study. Quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques.

3.2 Data type and sources

3.2.1 Primary sources

Primary data was used to provide information to answer the study objectives. Primary data was collected from the thirty selected sample respondents by use of questionnaires designed to answer the research questions of the study. Primary data was important to the study because the data was unused and fresh.

3.2.2 Secondary sources

The secondary data was used to supplement on the primary data. The secondary data was collected from Library, research reports, journals, articles inform of literature review which provided information related to the study.

3.3 Sample Size and Sampling Procedure

3.3.1 Sample Size

The sample refers to a few items selected from the universe or population for study purposes, (Baron. 2011). The study used a total of 30 respondents and was regarded representative of the study population and to provide a manageable volume of data and allowed the researcher to make accurate estimates of thoughts and behavior of a larger population. The sample size was determined using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) because of its simplicity in determining the sample size not forgetting the time factor.

Table 3.1: Sample size

3.3.2 Sampling Procedures

The study used purposive sampling method. Purposive sampling is one of the most cost-effective and time-effective sampling methods available, it may be the only appropriate method available if there are only limited number of primary data sources who can contribute to the study and this sampling technique can be effective in exploring anthropological situations where the discovery of meaning can benefit from an intuitive approach.

The study also used simple random method to reduce on the biasness of the purposive data and will mainly be used on clients. Advantages are that it is free of classification error, and it requires minimum advance knowledge of the population other than the frame. Its simplicity also makes it relatively easy to interpret data collected in this manner. For these reasons, simple random sampling best suits situations where not much information is available about the population and data collection can be efficiently conducted on randomly distributed items, or where the cost of sampling is small enough to make efficiency less important-than simplicity.

3.4 Data Collection Methods and Procedures

The study involved use of questionnaires and interview method.

3.4.1 Questionnaires

This research instrument to be used includes structured questionnaires with pre-coded answers administered to the respondents. The questionnaire was used because it is practical, also large amounts of information can be collected from a large number of people in a short period of time and in a relatively cost effective way, can be carried out by the researcher or by any number of people with limited affect to its validity and reliability, the results of the questionnaires can usually be quickly and easily quantified by either a researcher or through the use of a software package, can be analysed more ‘scientifically’ and objectively than other forms of research, when data has been quantified,, it can be used to compare and contrast other research and may be used to measure change.

3.4.2 Interview

Interview guide is used by the study since the methods help in the collection of more data as it allows the interaction of both the researcher and the respondents. The interview method was used because any misunderstanding and mistake can be rectified easily in an interview. Also the relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee can be developed through an interview. It increases mutual understanding and co-operation between the parties and suitable candidates can be selected through interview because the interview can know a lot about the candidate by this process. Interview can help to collect the fresh, new and primary information as needed.

Before data collection, the researcher ensured the approval of the research instruments especially the interview guide; obtained the introductory letter from the university, introduced herself to the authorities, sought participants’ consent and made appointments when to meet them for interviews and data collection, and the data collected was analysed.

3.5 Data Processing and Analysis

After collecting and cleaning the data it was entered in a computer using Ms-excel. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, which includes frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data was analyzed in the content analysis and the analyzed data is presented using tables and figures in form of a report.

3.6 Limitations of the study

The time allowed to do this research was not enough to allow exhaustive study and
obtain all the essential information for much more suitable conclusions. The problem
was minimized by putting much effort on this research so as to meet the deadline.

The Researcher was limited by financial resources such as the transport costs and
stationery to carry out her research effectively. In an effort to mitigate this
shortcoming, the researcher sourced for funds from a few sponsors.

Slow or non- response: Since the researcher did not know the kind of respondents to
deal with, some of them failed to respond or delayed to do so. The researcher made convenient appointments with the respondents and encouraged them to respond and gave true information in time.

High expectations from the respondents in exchange of information. To overcome this, the researcher made sure that the respondents provide information voluntarily and willingly.

CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.0 Introduction

This chapter focuses on the findings of the study which are presented in tables, charts and graphs of responses from the sample of the study. The chapter is presented in subtopics related to study objectives of the study and a description of the socio – demographic characteristics of the study respondents.

4.1 Characteristics of respondents

This chapter of the study discusses the various socio demographic characteristics of respondents. The major socio demographic variables discussed included gender, age, educational level and length of staying in the area. The result is presented below.

4.1.1 Gender of Respondents

The study sought to identify the gender of respondents. Different responses were obtained and are presented in the figure 4.1 below;

Figure 4.1: Gender of Respondents

Source: Primary Data

From figure 4.1, out of the total number of respondents who were sampled, majority (66%) were male whereas 34% were also female. This implies that the organization is gender sensitive since all categories of people were employed by Bisons solid waste management company which improves the reputation of the organization. Male were more than female because most the employees are of male sex since male employees can easily carry out activities related to solid waste management services than women.

4.1.2 Age of Respondents

Respondents were required to indicate their age. Different responses were obtained and are presented in table 4.1 below;

Table 4.1: Age range of Respondents

Source: Primary Data

The majority (36.7%) of the respondents as indicated by the table 4.1 above were predominantly between the ages of 30 and 39years. A significant percentage (33.3%) of the respondents were less than 30years. 30-39years had the highest number, this is because at this age, people have acquired more working experience and some have pursued further studies, which make them preferable to the company.

4.1.3 Level of education of respondents

Respondents were required to indicate their level of education. Different responses were obtained and are presented in figure 4.2 below;

Figure 4.2: Highest level of education

Source: Primary Data

The figure above shows that most (36%) of the respondents had reached primary level, 27% of them had reached Diploma, 20% of the respondents had reached secondary level, 17% of the respondents had reached degree level, no respondent had masters. This means that the most respondents were of primary level because of the nature of jobs in the organization which mainly require unskilled labour.

4.1.4 Length of stay in the area of study

Study respondents were required to state the length of stay in the area of study and the following results were obtained and are presented below;

Figure 4.3:  length of stay in the area of study

Source: Primary Data

According to the figure above, majority (51.7%) of the sampled respondents have been working in the institution for 2-5years, 40% of them have worked there for less than 2years. This implies that the organization retains existing employees and recruits less people. Therefore indicating a low labour turnover in Bisons Solid Waste Management company.

4.3 The effect of recycling process on employment creation

The study sought to examine the effect of recycling process on employment creation in Jinja municipality. Therefore respondents were asked a couple of questions and results were obtained and they are presented below;

4.3.1 Nature of solid waste generated in Jinja municipality

The researcher sought to determine the nature of solid waste generated in the municipality. Different responses were obtained and are presented in table 4.2 below;

Table 4.2: Nature of solid waste generated in Jinja municipality

Source: Primary Data

Jinja municipality generates an estimated 31.423 tones of garbage daily with a composition Biodegradable (73.3%), Plastics (10%), Metal (3.3%), Polythene (6.7%) and others (6.7%). The average per capita solid waste generation rate is 1.284-kg/per person/per day with a high organic content and bulky density. However there were varying solid waste per capita generation rates depending on income levels with high-income households generating more than low income households but accumulation was higher in low income areas compared to high income settlements due to unavailability of waste collection services.

Respondents were asked to indicate the state of solid waste in Jinja municipality and findings indicated that solid waste in Jinja is made up of organic wastes (food and garden wastes) mainly associated with household and market waste; broken glasses, plastics, polyethylene, rubber, scrap metal, wood, paper and other inorganic wastes associated with the industrial and commercial sectors. The organization is charged with the responsibility of collecting all the garbage in the town has provided communal bins at specific points.

All solid waste collected by the authorities dumped at the gazette landfill is collected by the private collectors. However much of the solid waste collected by the illegal and unlicensed collectors and some poor informal households is disposed in ungazetted places like the roadsides, illegally constituted dumpsites and the drainage channels due to the costs involved in waste management.

The findings agree with (Ajayi. 2008) who argued that industrial waste that ends up in MSW streams like packaging materials like tins, cavera’s (polythene bags) and papers. This takes many forms of combustible, non- combustible, biodegradable and non- biodegradable wastes. Typically they include both processed and non-processed waste. The non-processed waste is where office waste and packaging ‘waste are categorized. Processed wastes are mainly upon products manufactured which end up being dumped in the environment after their lifespan expires like spoilt food, metal wastes (scraps), rubber wastes, plastic wastes, environmental chemists also classified mining waste, under this category.

4.3.2. Whether the solid waste collected is recyclable      

Respondents were further to indicate whether the solid waste collected is recyclable and results obtained are presented in figure 4.4 below;

Figure 4.4: Shows response on whether the solid waste collected is recyclable

Source: Primary Data

From figure 4.4, majority (70%) of respondents mentioned that the solid waste collected is recyclable and the minority (30%) of the respondents said no.

Respondents indicated that every owner or occupant of dwelling or commercial premises is responsible for waste generated at those premises until it is collected by council, its appointed agents or operator licensed by the council.

These findings are in line with (Habeeb, 2014) who argued that recyclers is another component of informal private sector that include both the micro and the small scale recycling companies, they converts recovered waste materials like paper, aluminum, animal by-products, plastics scrap metals etc. to valuable materials and. raw materials for the consumption of the industrial sector.

4.3.3 Whether solid waste collected is paid for

They study sought to identify whether solid waste collected is paid for. Different responses were obtained and are presented in table 4.3 below;

Table 4.3: Whether solid waste collected is paid for

Source: Primary Data

From table above, a greater number (100%) of the respondents indicated that it is paid for by private collectors.

Respondents reported that the amount of fees charged was at the discretion of the private waste collectors depending on the amount and no receipts in most cases are issued. Generally the licensed private collectors charged between 1,000 shillings to 3,000 shillings which is quite exorbitant for the urban poor while the illegal collectors charged very low fees (between 200 shillings to 1.000 shillings) for collection and they eventually dumped solid waste indiscriminately.

Respondents also revealed that the organization is empowered by the council to levy, collect fees for the collection and final disposal of solid waste to be payable by the person generating the waste at a specific period in line with the collection, storage and disposal.

Information from this study shows the willingness of the local community both in very informal settlement and a more affluent chapter to pay for solid waste generated.

Another compelling fact about solid waste management according to this study is the inefficiency of the municipality to manage solid waste due to financial challenges arising from limited financial support and collection from the local people to pay for their garbage.

True also is the fact that the private collectors (Bisons solid waste management company) don’t remit any money to the council yet this being a business venture.

Landlords of most informal settlement houses also don’t provide for solid waste management facilities for their tenants.

These study findings are in agreement with (Briefing Paper, 2011) who stated that the authority and municipalities are empowered to prescribe fees for the collection and final disposal of solid waste by the council under chapter IV (4) of SWM ordinance of 2000. However the Council did not provide guidelines on the amount of fees to be collected for which quantity of solid waste generated.

4.3.4 Kinds of people employed to collect solid waste

The researcher asked respondents to identify what kinds of people are employed to collect solid waste. Responses were obtained and are presented in table 4.4 below;

Table 4.4: Shows kinds of people employed to collect solid waste

Source: Primary Data

Results in table above indicate that, majority (53.3%) of the respondents said that both educated and uneducated people are employed and the minority (20%) of the respondents indicated educated people. This implies that any one can be employed in Bisons solid waste management.

These findings are in agreement with Defra (2010) who indicated that most people who are employed in solid waste management jobs are mostly uneducated, they are employed to work on box body trucks which are specifically designed for solid waste transportation were operational and none of the tippers though not appropriate in transportation of garbage was operational due to mechanical problems. Others are employed in managerial positions.

4.3.5 Whether recycling process has had an impact on employment creation

The researcher also sought to identify whether recycling process has had an impact on employment creation. Responses were obtained and are presented as follows;

Table 4.5: Shows whether recycling process has had an impact on employment creation

Source: Primary Data

From table above, a greater number (53.3%) of the respondents indicated that recycling process has had an impact on employment creation and the least number (46.7%) of the respondents said recycling process has not had an impact on employment creation.

These findings are in agreement with Scottish Executive (Scottish Executive, 2010) who suggested that employment in solid waste management in Local Authority, private, community, consultancy and government sectors in Scotland was about 8,000 jobs in 2004/6 having grown from about 4,600 in 1998 with a turnover of about £454 million in 2004. The study suggests that some 1,446 jobs were created in local authorities from 2003 to 2006. Collection and disposal makes up most of the employment (approximately 2,600 employees in 2004), followed by non-scrap recycling (600) and scrap recycling (500).

4.3.6. How recycling process had an impact of employment creation

The study respondents were required to show how recycling process has had an impact of employment creation. Several responses were obtained from the study tools and are presented below;

Table 4.6: Shows how recycling process had an impact of employment creation

Source: Primary Data

From table above, a greater number (75%) of the respondents indicated that recycling process has created more jobs and the least number (25%) of the respondents said recycling process has good paying jobs.

Respondents revealed that in Jinja municipality together with the support provided by Bisons, a number of income generating activity initiatives were being practiced by the local community on a small scale while others were solely individual efforts without any kind of support. Among them included making of briquettes from waste, art and craft, artisan and metal works, collection and transportation of solid waste and lastly waste picking and collection.

These findings suggest that there is a great potential which is untapped in Jinja municipality regarding solid waste as an income generating venture. However there is need to support the local community with both capacity building in business management, working capital, marketing for their products and the municipality authorities also need to recognize these ventures as not only business opportunities for the local people but also as a waste reduction strategy to get rid of solid waste in the community.

These findings concur with (Sharon, 1993; Brunn and Williams 1987) who argue that employment generation through recycling of solid waste is not only found in Jinja municipality, but in many cities of developing countries. In Cairo, the Zabbalean religious sect dominates the garbage collection market. They use scavenging and recycling and feed the edible portions to their animals. In Mexico, Beijing and many cities in S.E. Asia solid waste collecting, recycling and scavenging is a traditional norm and is associated with the low income groups, many of whom survive on it directly or indirectly

4.4 Influence of solid waste collection and transportation on employment creation.

The study sought to examine the influence of solid waste collection and transportation on employment creation. Results were obtained and are presented below;

4.4.1 Kinds of people employed to collect solid waste

The study also sought to identify the kinds of people employed to collect solid waste. Responses were obtained and are presented below;

Table 4.7: Shows kinds of people employed to collect solid waste

Source: Primary Data

Results in table above indicate that, majority (53.3%) of the respondents said that both educated and uneducated people are employed and the minority (20%) of the respondents indicated educated people. This implies that any one can be employment solid waste management.

These findings are in agreement with Scottish Executive (Scottish Executive, 2010) who suggested that employment in solid waste management in Local Authority, private, community, consultancy and government sectors in Scotland was about 8,000 jobs in 2004/6 having grown from about 4,600 in 1998 with a turnover of about £454 million in 2004. The study suggests that some 1,446 jobs were created in local authorities from 2003 to 2006. Collection and disposal makes up most of the employment (approximately 2,600 employees in 2004), followed by non-scrap recycling (600) and scrap recycling (500).

4.4.2. What the company uses to collect solid waste

The study sought to find out what the company uses to collect solid waste. Various responses were got and are presented in table 4.8 below;

Table 4.8: Shows response on what the company uses to collect solid waste

Source: Primary Data

From table 4.8 above, a greater number (70%) of respondents mentioned that the company uses vehicles to collect solid waste and the least number (6.7%) of the respondents revealed that Bisons uses resource merchants.

During the study it was observed that the group of people cut across every known nationality in Jinja, unlike in some other countries where the entire operatives of the informal private sector in waste management industry is made up of people with the same cultural and religious background.

It was observed that about 40% of the people encountered in this study went into the venture to raise some start-up capital for other businesses and still taking this business as means to sustain and also to reduce the effect of poverty.

It was discovered that Bisons has been playing lot of roles in achieving recycling objectives and reduce the costs of disposal and space at the landfill.

The company has employed over 10 drivers to collect solid waste using different vehicles and going to different places.

These findings agree with Habeeb (2014) who argued that carts is another group of locals who are also playing a serious role in the operations of informal private sector in integrated solid waste management. Though very small in number, they are the one that invest their money in the construction of the different sizes of the carts being used by the cart pushers. The number of carts constructed and put for lease/ hire to the cart pusher by individuals ranges from 5 to 50 depending on the financial capacity of each individual involved in the business.

Also Adewale (2014) stated that scavengers is a group involved in both on-site and off-site waste/resource recovery, they recover re-usable and recyclables materials like plastics, Aluminum, glass, waste tire, Dunlop slippers, paper, scraps metal, animal wastes like horn, bones etc. Some of them go from door-to- door to recover re-usable and recyclable materials from the waste bin placed on the front-side of buildings, and even some go into the stream searching for metallic waste through the use of a magnet and they do this every day and most especially in the rainy season. While majority limit their operation to the waste brought to the disposal sites.

4.4.3. Which jobs have been in solid waste collection

The study sought to identify which jobs have been in solid waste collection. Obtained results are presented in the table below;

Table 4.9: Shows response on which jobs have been in solid waste collection

Source: Primary Data

From table above, majority of the study respondents (30%) indicated collectors and the least number of respondents (10%) mentioned management. This implies that there are several jobs that have been created in the process of solid waste collection in Jinja municipality.

Study findings agree with (Lukman, 2014) who stated that several people are involved in waste recovery; as they go from house-to-house collecting waste at an agreed fee, they also sort and recover reusable and recyclable materials from the waste before disposing the residue. The non-formalization of the activities of the group has made it almost impossible to have accurate data/records of their activities within the waste management industry.

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATION

5.0 Introduction

This chapter contains conclusions, recommendations and suggestions for further studies in accordance with the study objectives.

5.1 Conclusion

The collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in Jinja are the responsibility of Municipalities and its agents or appointed private collectors (such as Bisons). There is great potential in income generation which is untapped regarding solid waste as art and craft, briquette making, artisan and metal works, garbage transportation and waste picking. Many people in Jinja municipality have been employed in solid waste management such as drivers, collectors, mobilisers and others in managerial positions. Therefore, as a result of recycling process, solid waste collection and transportation, many jobs have been created in Jinja municipality.

5.2 Policy Recommendations

This study however proposes a new fee collection arrangement where, through the council, a levy similar to local service tax to be levied and collected by the Landlord as part of their monthly rental fees and remitted to private collectors for garbage collection.

Another alternative collection arrangement is through the local councils to collect this fee on behalf of the council due to their knowledge of the local community landlords which information council tax collectors may not have. This arrangement will also empower local communities to hold the council accountable for the uncollected solid waste from their dwellings.

Special attention should be put to a) the amount of levied depending on the amount of solid waste generated, b) community sensitization about this levy and solid waste responsibilities, and c) accountability for the levy collected.

Public Awareness: this involves open, popular and broad involvement of people in decision making that affect their lives. s

Private waste collectors should be integrated with the communities and together they should work to eliminate the problem of irregular collections, payment of charges and even adjustment of charges when desired and through this awareness dignity, improved incomes and ultimately better social recognition could be achieved.

5.3 Areas for further studies

The study recommends that on the challenges faced by private waste collectors in Uganda.

REFERENCES

Adewale, L. (2014). Impact of Informal Private Sector in Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) In Ibadan, Nigeria – A Developing Country.

Ajani, O.I.Y. (2008) “Determinants of an effective solid waste management in Ibadan metropolis, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan

Ajayi, F. (2008). The Mokottam Garbage Villages “ Cairo, Egypt.

Anderson, E. (2008). The Benefits of Third Sector Waste Management. Proceedings Waste 2008 Conference.

Audit Scotland (2008). Overview of the Local Authority Audits 2007, prepared for the Accounts Commission.

Basemera I. (1996). Kyebando YWCA started a paper recycling project, New Vision 16.6.1996.

Bramley, L. & Ellwood, F. (2009). Delivering socio-economic benefits from municipal waste management contracts – a toolkit, Urban Mines.

Briefing Paper (2011). Composing Garbage reuse Waste picking & collection & incineration Composing Waste picking & collection. Solid Waste Management Arrangements and its Challenges in Kampala: A case Study of Bwaise II Parish, Kawempe Division, October 2011.

Brunn S.D. and Williams J.F. (1987). Cities of the World. Division of Structure Plan.

California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB),(March 2003). Diversion Is Good for the Economy: Highlights from Two Independent Studies on the Economic Unpads of Diversion in California.

CASCADIA (2009). Recycling and economic development: a review of existing literature on job creation, capital investment, and tax revenues, King Country Linkup.

Defra,  2010a, Municipal        Waste  Management   Statistics: http://www.defra.gov.uk/’evidence/statistics/environmentAvastats/bulletinOQ.htin

Douglas, I. (1986). The Urban Environment. Edward Arnold, London.

Elight, J. & Mbade, K. (1996). The future’s green: jobs and the UK low-carbon transition, Institute for Public Policy Research.

Furedy, I. (1992). Overview of the Local Authority Audits.

Gray, A., Percy S. & Bruegel I. (2002). Estimating job creation from recycling and reprocessing, Report for London Remade.

Habeeb, L.A. (2014). “New Era of Integrated Solid Waste Management in Ibadan. Oyo State Nigeria – A developing Country”: 29th International Conference on Solid Waste Technology & Management, Philadelphia

Kairiza, T. (2009). The Nature of Sustainable Development. Scribe Publications.

Lukman, A, H. (2014). Solid Waste Management (ISWM) In Ibadan, Nigeria: Informal private sector impact.

Nyakaana, J.B., (2009). Kenya’s Development Centre Policy: The Case Study of Eldoret. An Assessment of Implementation and Impact. University of Amsterdam: Ph.D. Thesis.

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Zake, H. (2009). Ibadan Solid Waste Project: Institutional and Management Study.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX I: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR MANAGEMENT AND STAFF

Dear respondent,

I am Nakitandwe Priscilla, a student of Kyambogo University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Economics. This study is intended to examine ‘The impact of solid waste management on employment creation”. Your feedback is very important as your inputs was used for academic purposes only. I greatly appreciate if you could take a few minutes to provide me with information. Your response was kept confidential and it will not be divulged to any person or institution outside this corporation.

CHAPTER A: BIO – DATA

(N.B Answer by Ticking where applicable)

1. Gender

Female                                    Male

2. Age in years

25-30                                       31-36

36-40                                       Above 40

3. Education Level

Diploma                                  Bachelor

Postgraduate                           Masters

4. Number of years in Service

I -5 years                                 6-10years

l – 15years                               Above 15years

5. What is your position?

Recycler                      Cart Pushers

Scavengers                  Collector

Driver                          Others (specify)……………………………..

CHAPTER B: THE EFFECT OF RECYCLING PROCESS ON EMPLOYMENT CREATION.

6. What is the state of solid waste in Jinja municipality?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. Are the solid waste collected recyclable?

Yes                              No

8. If yes, what are the criteria of collecting?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. Is it paid for?

Yes                              No

10. What kinds of people are employed to collect solid waste?

Educated                     Uneducated                            Both

1 I. What types of jobs are available in recycling process?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. As it had any impact on the employment creation?

Yes                              No

13. If yes, which impact?

Created more jobs                   Good paying jobs

CHAPTER C: THE INFLUENCE OF SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION ON EMPLOYMENT CREATION

14. Which kinds of people are employed in the solid waste collection?

Educated                     Uneducated                            Both

15. What does the company use to collect rubbish?

Vehicles                      Carts                            Scavengers

Resource merchants                                        Others specify …………………..

16. How many drivers have been employed?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

17. 1 Which jobs have been created in solid waste collection and transportation?
    Management Collectors Drivers

Mobilisers                    Others specify

18. In your words, what is needed to be done to improve the employment creation in solid
    waste management?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thank you for your time

APPENDIX II: INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR LOCAL LEADERS

1. What is the state of solid waste in Jinja municipality?
2. Is the solid waste collected recyclable?
3. If yes, what are the criteria of collecting?
4. Is it paid for?
5. What kinds of people are employed to collect solid waste?
6. What types of jobs are available in recycling process?
7. As it had any impact on the employment creation?
8. Which kinds of people are employed in the solid waste collection?
9. What does the company use to collect rubbish?
10. How many drivers have been employed?
11. Which jobs have been created in solid waste collection and transportation?
12. In your words, what is needed to be done to improve the employment creation in solid waste management?