Abstract:
Solid waste has become a critical issue with rising population, urbanizalion and
economic activities, especially in urban centres creating a negative impact on
environment due to inappropriate handling of municipal solid waste. Solid waste
management (SWM) is a multidimensional challenge faced by urban authorities,
particularly in developing countries like Sri Lanka. An essential preliminary step in
municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is the accurate determination of the
quantities and composition of the wastes. Analysis of the quantity and composition of
municipal solid waste (MSW) is fundamental for the planning of municipal waste
management services. Therefore, the aim of this study was also to evaluate residential
solid waste generation, its composition, and the methods of waste disposal adopted in
the Seethawaka Secretariat Area of Colombo district. This survey covered 150
households with varying socio-economic levels, including differences in income levels
and family sizes. Six components of solid waste were evaluated in this study, namely
food waste, paper, polyethylene, plastic, glass, and metal.
The volume of solid waste generated in the Seethawaka Divisional Secretariat area is
reported to be approximately 30-40 tons per day. A man (or any individual) would
generate approximately 0.39 kg of food waste per day. The total waste generation per
person per day is found as 0.43 kg. Food waste accounts for nearly 90o/o of the total
waste generated. For food waste, average waste generation, polythene with the number
of household members were shown statistically significant relationship (p < 0.01). The
Pearson correlation coefficient (r : 0.488, p<0.01) indicates a positive correlation
between the number of household members and the amount of waste generated
monthly. Higher income is strongly associated with increased food waste and overall
waste generation. Paper and polythene waste in relation to monthly income show
weaker correlations (r around 0.260 to 0.276) with the p value of (p: 0.068 to 0.053).
Nearly half of the population uses old buckets for waste collection, making it the most
common method. Burning is the most prevalent waste disposal method, indicating a
potential area for intervention due to environmental and health concerns.
The study findings indicate that the overall socio-economic condition of the residential
area significantly influences the higher percentage of the organic component in the
waste. Additionally, the study underscores the necessity for increasing awareness
among households to encourage active participation in solid waste management,
thereby contributing to environmental protection.
