Impact of Capacity Mobilization on Solid Waste Management A Case Study in Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha

Capacity mobilization in solid waste management is defined as the mobilization of potential and existing resources of communities, organizations, institutions and local authorities effectively and efficiently for managing solid waste. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of implemented capacity mobilization programme on solid waste management in year 2007. This objective was achieved by measuring the approximate quantities of different kinds of waste disposed and by assessing the knowledge and application of 3R system within identified 2 sample areas after a lapse of one year. Two sets of sample Groups were selected with 30 individual households with and without the participation for capacity mobilization programme in year 2007 from Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha including 2 Grama Niladhari divisions Maharatenna and Manikhinna- East. Sampling was done randomly from households along the two major waste collecting streets. Preliminary analysis showed that the general characteristics of these two Groups are more or less equal. Therefore, the only difference of these two groups with respect to solid waste disposal can be due to the capacity mobilization programme conducted in year 2007. The calculated waste discharge rate of the group that participated in the capacity mobilization programme is 1.86 kg/ person-week while the other group produced 2.84 kg/person-week. There is a significant difference between two sample means of waste discharge rate between the two groups. Also, the group which was exposed to capacity mobilization programme showed relatively high rate of application of waste separation system in their own households and were well aware about impacts of burning of polythene. They had more positive ideas to improve solid waste management practices compared to the other group. Therefore, there is a positive impact of capacity mobilization programme on solid waste management in the studied area. Also, it is of utmost importance to undertake follow up procedures up to a reasonable time limit to keep the participants in the correct course of action until they naturally enter the environmentally safe waste disposal procedures. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v21i3.3297 TAR 2010; 21(3): 238-246