Abstract

Many cities and towns of the developing countries face serious municipal solid waste pollution resulting from the indiscriminate waste disposal. The situation is even more critical and pervasive in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This study highlights the current pollution situation in Juba, with specific focus on waste management system. Brief investigation of some causative factors is also discussed. The study was purely quantitatively descriptive, including various data collection techniques (interviews, field observation and systematic literature reviews). The study revealed that average household municipal solid waste generated was 2.88 kg/day and the/capita/day was 0.38 kg. Thus, the entire city, with a population of about 231,776, generates approximately 667.5 tons/day. Plastic dominates the composition making up 72.75%, wood 19.98%, worn out textile 2.36%, metal 1.84% and organic (mostly food waste) 3.13%. Illegal dumping was also observed as well as open air burning. The wastes were disposed of in river bank/streambeds, especially at night and burnt on the road sides, open spaces and near the houses. All these malpractices pose a serious health and environmental hazard to the water bodies. The same water being used for household purposes by the majority of the city’s residents. The study also noticed that 69% of the wastes were disposed of randomly by the householders themselves, 22% by Juba city respective waste management units and 9% by private companies. The conclusion of this assessment showed that the municipal solid waste pollution poses high risk to human health and the environment.

Keywords:

Environment, household, human health, municipal solid waste, pollution,

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