An Assessment of the Congruence of the Environmental Sanitation Policy (2010) with Practice of Solid Waste Management in the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (Lekma)

Abstract

The management of solid waste is becoming a daunting challenge in many developing countries and governments have used policies as tools to guide them in its management. However, the gap between policy and practice keeps widening. This study sought to assess the congruence of the Environmental Sanitation Policy with practice of solid waste management in the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly. The goal of the policy as well as its focus areas were identified. The study also explored how the policy has been implemented, the success and the challenges encountered during the implementation. The Integrated Sustainable Waste Management model was used as the theoretical framework to understand why solid waste problems still persist despite the existence of the Environmental Sanitation Policy. A combination of qualitative and quantitative method was used to gain a deeper understanding of the solid waste practices in the municipality. The study found that the Assembly is doing its best to implement the principles of the policy. However, the lack of commitment and unavailability of resources among others to undertake actions spelt out in the policy is a major impediment to the policy’s implementation. Also, the study found that a lack of integration between actors, elements and laws governing solid waste is another reason why solid waste is still a problem in the municipality.