Households' source separation behaviour and solid waste disposal options in Ghana's Millennium City

Area of Science:

• Environmental Policy
• Urban Planning
• Waste Management Studies

Background:

• Poor solid waste management is a critical issue in Ghanaian urban policy.
• Current policies often favor privatization and deregulation based on free market principles.
• Household source separation is emerging as a key policy alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the determinants of household source separation behavior in Accra, Ghana.
• To analyze the factors influencing household solid waste disposal options.
• To inform policy recommendations for effective waste management in urban areas.

Main Methods:

• Utilized logit and multinomial logit regression models for analysis.
• Examined data from residents of Accra, Ghana's 'Millennium City'.
• Identified key demographic, economic, and attitudinal variables affecting waste management behavior.

Main Results:

• Household source separation is significantly influenced by gender, income, monetary incentives, attitude, housing type, and service provider.
• Household disposal options are predicted by gender, age, income, household size, employment, housing type, and attitude.
• Specific household characteristics and incentives play a crucial role in waste management practices.

Conclusions:

• Source separation should be actively promoted by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to combat waste management challenges.
• Encouraging source separation can foster positive attitudes towards proper waste disposal.
• Policy interventions should consider the identified determinants to enhance household participation in waste management programs.