WASTE MANAGEMENT IN COWDRAY PARK SUBURB OF BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE.

This article reports the results of an investigation conducted in Cowdray Park suburb, Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe, about the challenges of household waste management under circumstances of local government incapacity to provide effective and efficient services. Also, the article discusses the challenges that the majority of residents in this suburb grapple within their attempts to use alternative waste management methods that evidently do not meet the required environmental standards. "Based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques, a total of 40 households from Terminus, Esigayweni, Garikai and Alpha in Cowdray park suburb were surveyed using questionnaire; also, officials from Bulawayo City Council (BCC) too were interviewed". SPSS was used to analyse data and produce summary statistics in tables, graphs and charts. Additionally, observations were conducted in order to generate field reports, and photographic evidence was compiled. The article finds that BCC has continuously failed to provide adequate, regular, effective and efficient waste management services, particularly refuse collection. As a result, the majority of residents were forced to adopt alternative means of waste disposal, most of which were not environmentally friendly. Among other methods, residents relied on burning, burying, composting, recycling or reusing and illegal dumping, the collective impact of which has been to create excessive illegal dumps in the streets, drainage systems and such other sensitive areas. Residents' waste management efforts notwithstanding, the environment of illegal dumping in these suburbs has been associated with health risks and hazards. The article concludes that this state of affairs would persist if national government does not provide support to local authorities to ensure that it could mount educational campaigns, implement and enforce all applicable legislation, secure adequate resources for safe and adequate waste management as well as embark on innovative techniques, in collaboration with the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]