URBAN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF THE TECHIMAN MUNICIPALITY IN THE BRONG AHAFO REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Urban solid waste disposal has become a heavy task for the municipal authorities and other stakeholders who in their capacity are unable to tackle the increasing waste menace in the country. The study investigates the nature of the urban solid waste menace in the Techiman municipality which has seen an Increase over the years. The solid waste situation has dare consequences creating epidemics to the environment, humans and animals, thereby degrading the environment and also polluting the Tano River which inhabits the sacred fishes and serve as a tourist attraction to the municipal area. For the investigation, mixed methodology was used, which includes questionnaire and interviews from stakeholders. Observational, pictures and documentary data were also collected to help examine the disposal of solid waste in the municipality. The study identified some major issues such as the overgrowing solid waste menace in the Techiman Municipality which was as a result of the inadequate logistics, human resources, funds and education which had a great toll on the Municipal Assembly cope with . Some causes of the waste situation were identified as lack of political will by government and other stakeholders in the environmental management sector in the study area. There was the flexibility of environmental laws which did not punish offenders to serve as a deterrent to others who violated the environmental bye -laws of the Techiman municipal Assembly. The poor delivery of solid waste collection services and the citing of landfill facilities near settlements were some of the key findings. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the solution to the worsening environmental condition in the Techiman municipality lies in the hands of the residents and stakeholders in the waste management sector whose responsibility was to prioritize urban environmental and sanitation bye-laws, education and attitudinal change in the people to help curb the poor environmental sanitation conditions and the sanitation related diseases prevalence in the Techiman Municipal area