TITLE:
Establishing Spatial Characteristics of High-Density Residential Neighbourhood That Can Influence a Sustainable Solid Waste Management System in Kasarani, Nairobi
AUTHORS:
Praizy Zakaria, Moirongo Otoki, Teckla Muhoro
KEYWORDS:
High-Density Residential Neighbourhood, Spatial Characteristics, Sustainable Solid Waste Management System, Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.12 No.3,
September
23,
2024
ABSTRACT: Kasarani, a densely populated residential neighbourhood in Nairobi City County, has experienced increased demand for solid waste management services due to its rapid population growth. This study focused on establishing spatial attributes that can influence a sustainable solid waste management system in Kasarani. The study was conducted through random sampling where 105 housing units, 30 blocks, and 30 clusters were selected. It was established that the average amounts of solid waste generated per week in the study area were 8.64 kg, 198.72 kg, and 4968 kg per housing unit, per block, and per cluster, respectively. The per capita waste generation rate was 0.31 kg/capita/day, with an average household size of 4.90% of the residential blocks in the study area devoid of waste storage containers. This was attributed to high ground coverage, leaving minimal space for such facilities. This factor had a negative effect on waste segregation at the housing unit level. The illegal dumping in the study area was exacerbated by the lack of solid waste collection facilities and long distances covered by waste collectors to pull their carts to reach designated disposal sites. Housing units’ spatial characteristics, such as household size and number of rooms, had a positive correlation with solid waste generated by a housing unit at 0.709 and 0.534, respectively. Similarly, blocks’ spatial attributes, such as block population density and number of housing units, had a positive correlation with waste generation at 0.832 and 1, respectively. This means that as household size, number of rooms, population density and number of housing units increase, so does the amount of waste generated. This finding can be used by policymakers and developers to compute the capacity of block solid waste storage container, capacity and number of collection facilities, and the capacity of waste transportation vehicles.