Solid Waste Management in African Cities – East Africa 11
NGOs and CBOs are also participating in waste collection, recycling and disposal in the
urban councils (Tukahirwa 2011; Oberlin 2011, Okot-Okumu & Nyenje 2011; Liyala 2011).
NGOs and CBOs focus mainly on the less privileged urban communities where they serve
more than half the population compared to urban councils and private companies
combined. CBOs are much more well established in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi compared to
Kampala where they focus mainly on the urban poor solid waste management (Tukahirwa
2011).There is also the informal waste collection by waste picker (also known as
‘scavengers’) who salvage from public bins, disposal sites and along streets; itinerant waste
buyers who buy or exchange (barter) items from households such as bottles, plastics and old
newsprints for mostly fruits and vegetables (in Kampala). There are also waste buying
kiosks for scrap metals and plastics. The informal waste collectors operating in urban
councils deal directly with households, markets and other establishments. It is reported
(Wang, et al., 2008) that even though these informal practices have positive contribution to
urban waste management, they also bring about social problems1. Barter systems could be
explored by urban councils for the poorer zones of the municipalities to reduce the negative
impacts solid wastes and eliminate cheating while at the same time improving on
community nutrition (Okot-Okumu & Nyenje 2011). The public-, private- and informal
sectors can all work together with the community to improve solid waste management
(Chakrabrati 2009; Liyala 2011; Oberlin 2011; Okot-Okumu & Nyenje 2011; Tukahirwa 2011).
The community can be involved more effectively through CBOs that are already working
with them in waste management projects.