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SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN JAMAICA:
AN INVESTIGATION INTO WASTE REDUCTION STRATEGIES
By
Jennifer L. Post
A REPORT
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
For the degree of
Master of Science in Civil Engineering
MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
2007
Copyright © Jennifer L. Post 2007
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This report, “Solid Waste Management in Jamaica: An investigation into waste reduction
strategies” is hereby approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Master’s International Program
Signatures
Report Advisor________________________
James R. Mihelcic
Department Chair_______________________
Neil Hutzler
Date______________________
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Preface
The solid waste reduction study described in this report took place during the
author’s service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Parish of St. Ann, Jamaica from
August 2005 to June 2007. The author worked as a Sanitation Engineer with the
Northeast Regional Health Authority, a division of the Ministry of Health.
This report is submitted in order to complete the requirements of the author’s
master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Master’s International Program in Civil
and Environmental Engineering at Michigan Technological University. This report
describes the study that was completed in order to identify appropriate solid waste
management solutions for rural communities in the Parish of St. Ann.
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Table of Contents
List of Figures..................................................................................................................... 6
List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 7
Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. 9
Abstract............................................................................................................................. 10
1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 12
1.1 Objectives .........................................................................................................15
2 Review of Literature ................................................................................................. 17
2.1 Waste Reduction Behavior ............................................................................... 20
2.1.1 Environmental Concern ............................................................................21
2.1.2 Knowledge, Access, and Convenience ..................................................... 24
2.1.3 Demographic Variables ............................................................................26
2.1.4 Translation of Behavior ............................................................................27
2.2 Sixteen Factors........................................................................................................ 28
2.3 Background.......................................................................................................30
2.3.1 Jamaica......................................................................................................30
2.3.1.1 Population ....................................................................................... 30
2.3.1.2 Economy ......................................................................................... 31
2.3.2 Parish of St. Ann ....................................................................................... 31
2.4 Waste Management in Jamaica......................................................................... 33
2.4.1 History of the National Solid Waste Management Authority................... 33
2.4.2 Waste Generation and Composition ......................................................... 34
2.4.3 Storage, Collection, and Disposal............................................................. 36
2.4.3 Public perception of solid waste in Jamaica ............................................. 39
2.4.5 Importance of Waste Reduction................................................................ 42
2.5 Demographics of Study Area........................................................................ 42
3 Methods and Procedures........................................................................................... 46
3.1 In-depth Interviews ...........................................................................................46
3.2 Questionnaire Survey........................................................................................48
3.2.1 Sample Frame ...........................................................................................48
3.2.2 Sample Design: Sample Size .................................................................... 51
3.2.3 Sample design: Sample Selection ............................................................. 52
3.2.4 Survey Procedure: Pilot ............................................................................ 52
3.2.5 Survey Procedure: Interviewer .................................................................54
3.2.6 Survey Procedure: Implementation...........................................................55
3.2.7 Questionnaire Design................................................................................58
3.2.7.1 Introduction........................................................................................... 59
3.2.7.2 Section One - Natural Environment...................................................... 59
3.2.7.3 Section Two - Household Solid Waste Management ........................... 60
3.2.7.4 Section Three - Concerns about solid waste management.................... 61
3.2.7.5 Section Four - Willingness to participate.............................................. 61
3.2.7.6 Section Five - Solid Waste Management Attitude Scale ...................... 62
3.2.7.7 Section Six - Environmental Health ..................................................... 64
3.2.7.8 Section Seven - Demography................................................................ 64
3.2.7.9 Limitations within Questionnaire ......................................................... 65
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4 Analysis and Discussion ........................................................................................... 68
4.1 Factor One – Government Policy ..................................................................... 68
4.2 Factor Two – Government Finances................................................................. 71
4.3 Factor Three – Waste Characterization............................................................. 73
4.4 Factor Four – Waste Collection and Segregation ............................................. 76
4.5 Factor Five – Household Education.................................................................. 81
4.6 Factor Six - Household Economics................................................................... 91
4.7 Factor Seven – MSWM Administration ........................................................... 96
4.8 Factor Eight – MSWM Personnel Education.................................................... 99
4.9 Factor Nine – MSWM Plan ............................................................................ 100
4.10 Factor Ten – Local Recycled-Materials Market ............................................. 101
4.11 Factor Eleven – Technological and Human Resources .................................. 105
4.12 Factor Twelve - Land Availability.................................................................. 107
4.13 Factor Thirteen - Environmental Concern ...................................................... 107
4.14 Factor Fourteen – Knowledge......................................................................... 112
4.15 Factor Fifteen - Access and Convenience....................................................... 114
4.16 Factor Sixteen - Demographics....................................................................... 115
4.17 Summary of Analysis...................................................................................... 119
5 Conclusions............................................................................................................. 124
6 Recommendations................................................................................................... 126
6.1 Recommendation 1: Animal feeding program to manage food waste 126
6.2 Recommendation 2: Composting program to manage yard waste ..... 127
6.3 Recommendation 3: Encourage residents to use appropriate storage
containers ........................................................................................................ 128
6.4 Recommendation 4: Improve collection coverage and frequency in
study area ........................................................................................................ 128
6.5 Recommendation 5: Develop public education campaigns to encourage
public participation of sustainable waste management behavior.................... 129
6.6 Recommendation 6: Support and guide the initiation of waste reduction
programs ......................................................................................................... 130
6.7 Recommendation 7: Ensure community involvement in the planning,
implementation and monitoring stages ........................................................... 131
References....................................................................................................................... 133
Appendix 1. In-depth Interview Guides with Responses for three interviews with key
stakeholders in the solid waste management sector of Jamaica ..................................... 139
Appendix 2. Waste Reduction Study Questionnaire Survey employed in the study area in
February 2007 .....................................................................