Problems of solid waste management on Mount Kilimanjaro: a challenge to tourism

We report on the findings of a study on the problems of solid waste management (SWM) on Mountain Kilimanjaro (MK) which is located within Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) in Northern Tanzania. The study was prompted by the fact that flourishing tourism on the mountain over the years has resulted in an increase in the tonnage of solid waste (SW) generated, posing serious challenges in its collection and disposal. The methodology employed in this study included physical observations and questionnaire surveys, as well as waste sorting and weighing to quantify and characterize waste loads collected from each tourist route station covered in this study. On the basis of the established SW generation rate (0.6 kg ca(-1) day(-1)) a total amount of SW generated was estimated to range from about 87 tones (in 2003) to 125 tones (in 2006). An improvement in SW collection from 64% in 2003 to 94% in 2006 was also noted. This improvement can be attributed to the trash-in-trash-out (TITO) system of SW collection which is currently practiced by the management of KINAPA for SWM on MK. The study also highlights potential environmental pollution including air pollution from open burning and pit disposal of SW. Based on average percentage values of waste components and the estimated quantity of waste generated, it was established that the total waste quantum contains about 34% of recyclables. The study recommends that resource recovery and conservation measures through waste recycling and re-use be instituted as one of the options for sustainable SWM on MK.