Domestic solid waste management and its impacts on human health and the environment in Sharg El Neel Locality, Khartoum State, Sudan

• Published in: Pakistan journal of biological sciences Vol. 16; no. 22; pp. 1538 - 1544
• Main Authors: Abdellah, A M, Balla, Q I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pakistan 15.11.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Attitudes; Consumer Behavior; Financing, Government; Government Regulation; Housing - economics; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; Population Density; Public Health - economics; Public Health Administration - economics; Refuse Disposal - economics; Refuse Disposal - methods; Socioeconomic Factors; Solid Waste - economics; Sudan; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban Health - economics; Urbanization; Young Adult; Sudan; Pakistan
• ISSN: 1028-8880; 1812-5735
• DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2013.1538.1544

Due to rapid urbanization in Khartoum State, Domestic Solid Waste (DSW) management remains the biggest obsession that recurrently attracts the attention of the concern authorities and stakeholders. As one of the seven localities comprised the state, the Sharg El Neel Locality was chosen to study the DSW management efficiency. The materials and methods employed in collection of data is a package of techniques, one of which was by conducting interviews using structured and unstructured questions mainly directed to appropriate persons i.e., householders and particular government employees directly engaged in DSW management operations. The main findings reached in this study were that local authorities lack the necessary capacities to handle the immense problems of DSW management. Shortages of funds, inadequate number of workers, lack of transport and facilities and weakness of attitudes of respondents found to be among factors hindering the DSW management. Accordingly, proper scheduled and timing, well-trained public health officers and sanitary overseers and strict sustainable program to controlling flies, rodents, cockroach and other disease vectors are essential to properly managing DSW. Otherwise, problems resulting from solid waste generation in the study area will be magnitudized and the surrounding environment will definitely be deteriorated.