Towards the Privatization of Household Solid Waste Management services in the City of Nairobi

Abstract

Household Waste Management (HWM) is an important component of public health and environmental and pollution-free protection. Its purpose is to provide a healthy environment. This study describes the roles of the public, private and community sectors in household solid waste management and the shortcomings of the system as currently practised Nairobi. The prillary and secondary data was obtained schedules/ questionnaires, key-informant in the City of by using standard interviews, participant observation, photography, documentary analysis and examination of relevant Literature. The study's findings indicated that about 1921 metric tonnes of household solid waste was generated proportion per day in Nairobi. Only (6.36%) of this amount was collected a small and disposed of at the Dandora landfill. The Nairobi City Council (NCC) handled the bulk (82%) of the waste collected, while the Private Companies (PCs) handled the rest (18%). The PCs' services were, however, more efficient and environmentally sound than those of the NCC. In the low-income areas, not covered by the NCC or the PCs, HWM was done by the Small-scale Community-based Composting Groups (SCCGs). However, it was clear that their composting programmes had generally led to improvement of community health and environmental sanitation in the slum areas. The shortcomings insufficient financial of the HWM outlays, programmes lack of in political the City and included: institutional support, the absence of a systematic approach, and poor community attitudes towards environmental cleanliness. Hence, the formulation implementation of a privatized, an institutionally-stable, and systematic and integrated HWM system to ensure efficiency and environmental soundness in the residential areas of the City is strongly recommended.