Abstract:
About hundreds of tons of solid wastes are generated monthly in Batticaloa town. Most of it ends
up in open dumps and wetlands, contaminating surface and groundwater and posing major health
hazards. In some areas uncollected wastes accumulated at road sides, are burned by residents or
disposed in illegal dumps which blight neighborhoods and harm public health.
Can indirectly calculate generation rates are approximately 0.5 kilograms per person per day.Most
waste in Batticaloa town is not regularly collected by municipal collection systems because of
poor management, fiscal irresponsibility, equipment failure, trucks breakdown, or inadequate
waste management budget. This study was conducted in Batticaloa town with the objective of
estimating the impact of socio-economic factors in generating the types of solid wastes, sorting
(point separation),and composting .
For this study the variables used were family size, household income, educational level, amount
of waste, age, environmental education, garden size and sex.
For data analysis MINITAB and SAS statistical packages were used. Multiple regression and
probit econometric analysis were run in these packages.
The results show family size and income of households had a significantly correlation with the
generation of solid wastes. Secondly, family size and income level show significantly correlation
with the sorting of household wastes while variable age show non-significant. Thirdly, family size
show significantly correlation with the composting of household wastes, while income of
households shows non-significant. .
This research clearly leads to develop several waste management policies that can be implemented
by the Municipal council, Batticaloa as efficient waste management tool on sustainable manner.
Creating a market for sorted out waste, promoting recycling and, reusing. Introducing a new
house hold tax system, reduce annual tax payment to promote sorting and composting of household
wastes. Formation of waste pickers’ cooperatives. Setting up of quality control criteria for compost and conducting of waste disposal awareness programs.
