Abstract
Waste reduction is recognized by the United Nations as a logical starting point for
sustainable solid waste management. The USEPA defines waste reduction as “a broad
term encompassing all waste management methods – source reduction, recycling, and
composting – that result in a reduction of waste going to a landfill or combustion
facility.” Waste reduction strategies have received much attention in developed
countries, leading to increased understanding of their application and thus their ultimate
societal prevalence.
In developing countries, such as Jamaica, waste reduction strategies are less
familiar but have the potential to resolve the current solid waste issues. The current
household solid waste management practices, such as disposal by burning and
indiscriminant dumping resulting from inadequate collection, can negatively impact
public and environmental health. Additionally, past interventions have not resulted in
sustained participation or improvements in solid waste management. Therefore, an
investigation is warranted to determine the applicability of waste reduction strategies in
Jamaica, based on the local need for long-lasting solutions and the support of waste
reduction methods.
In order to identify which waste reductions strategies to promote, the existing
solid waste management system in Jamaica is assessed based on a group of factors
compiled from waste reduction research in other countries. Public participation is at the
center of the investigation since success of waste reduction is reliant on the participation
of the individual. The report discusses the factors and describes the research methods
used to categorize each factor as either a barrier or an incentive to initiating waste
reduction methods. Based on the distribution of barriers and incentives, a series of
recommendations is made for improving solid waste management, including proposed
methods of waste reduction.
The analysis of factors revealed that the greatest potential for initiating waste
reduction strategies exists at the household level through community-based programs.
The diversion of food waste from the waste stream is currently achieved through the
practice of domestic animal feeding. Expansion of this practice is one of the
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recommendations made and other recommendations include initiate yard waste
composting, improve collection services, and initiate public education campaigns.