AN EVALUATION INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF URBAN WASTE MINIMIZATION STRATEGY IN CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Urbanisation has caused cities to expand quickly, leading to a proportional rise in the production of municipal solid waste (MSW). Efficiently handling this garbage has emerged as a crucial obstacle encountered by metropolitan regions worldwide. Waste minimisation, the act of decreasing the amount and toxicity of waste produced, is now widely acknowledged as an essential element of sustainable waste management techniques. Urbanisation has significantly transformed waste production trends on a global scale. As to the World Bank, the global yearly production of municipal solid trash amounts to 2.01 billion tonnes, with a minimum of 33% of that not being handled in an ecologically sound way (Kaza et al., 2018). The surge in trash production is mostly ascribed to the rise in population, economic advancement, and alterations in consumer habits, especially in metropolitan regions. Urban waste management systems in several developing nations face substantial strain due to inadequate resources for the collection, transportation, and disposal of trash. Insufficient infrastructure, ineffective administration, and little public understanding of the significance of waste reduction worsen these difficulties. Waste minimisation is widely recognised as a very successful approach to urban waste management. The process comprises a hierarchical sequence of measures with the objective of reducing waste generation, reutilising resources, and recycling, prior to contemplating disposal (Pongrácz & Pohjola, 2015). The approach is in line with the overarching objectives of sustainable development by mitigating the environmental consequences of waste, preserving natural resources, and minimising the expenses related to waste management.

garbage minimisation is essential for both managing the increasing amount of garbage and reducing its negative effects on the environment. Unregulated waste disposal may result in the contamination of the air, water, and soil, hence exacerbating climate change and posing risks to human well-being (Wilson et al., 2015). Moreover, the financial expenses associated with trash management are substantial, especially in metropolitan regions where there is a limited and costly availability of land for garbage disposal. By using waste minimisation measures, the expenses may be reduced by minimising the amount of trash that has to be collected, transported, and disposed of. Several approaches have been devised and put into practice to reduce urban garbage. These solutions are often classified as waste avoidance, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery (Zero Waste International Alliance, 2019). The efficacy of urban trash reduction initiatives is contingent upon several elements, such as the extent of public consciousness, the accessibility of infrastructure, political regulations, and economic stimuli. Waste reduction methods in wealthy nations have often had more success because of superior infrastructure, heightened public consciousness, and robust regulatory systems (Gellynck & Verhelst, 2017). Germany and Sweden have established comprehensive waste minimisation plans, which include stringent laws on trash disposal, large recycling systems, and incentives for waste reduction (European Environment Agency, 2020). On the other hand, poor nations often have substantial obstacles when it comes to executing waste reduction methods. The issues include insufficiencies in infrastructure, scarcity of financial resources, and restricted public awareness. Notwithstanding these difficulties, several urban regions in emerging nations have achieved significant advancements. An example of this is the city of Curitiba in Brazil, which has gained recognition for its pioneering trash management programs. These programs include a wide range of recycling activities and public education campaigns (Rabinovitch & Leitman, 2016). The overall efficacy of municipal trash reduction measures is on their seamless integration into wider urban planning and development policies. Therefore, the researcher sought to evaluate the effectiveness of urban waste minimization strategy in Cameroon.

1.2 Statement of the problem

The process of urbanisation in Cameroon has resulted in a substantial rise in the production of waste, which presents considerable difficulties for waste management systems in large cities such as Douala and Yaoundé. The ineffectiveness of waste management systems, along with the fast increase un population and industrial activity, has worsened the situation, resulting in environmental deterioration, public health issues, and a decrease in the quality of urban living (Ngoran, Xue, & Jing, 2016). Although some waste minimisation initiatives, such as recycling and composting programs, have been put into action, their success is still uncertain. Numerous metropolitan regions still struggle with excessive landfills, unauthorised dumping, and insufficient waste collection services (Achankeng, 2017). The enduring nature of these problems implies that the existing waste reduction tactics may not be entirely efficient or sufficiently enforced. The success rates of these programs and the level of public acceptance are not well-documented (Ngnikam & Tanawa, 2016).  Hence, the study evaluate the effectiveness of urban waste minimization strategy in Cameroon.

1.3 Objective of the study

The broad objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of urban waste minimization strategy in Cameroon. The specific objectives is as follows

To examine the level of public awareness on waste minimization initiatives in urban areas of Cameroon

To identify the waste minimization strategies in urban areas of Cameroon.

To evaluate the effectiveness of waste minimization strategies in reducing waste volumes in urban areas of Cameroon..

To analyze the challenges faced by urban authorities in implementing waste minimization strategies in Cameroon.

1.4 Research questions

The following questions have been prepared to guide the study

What is the level of public awareness on waste minimization initiatives in urban areas of Cameroon?

What are the waste minimization strategies in urban areas of Cameroon?

How effective is waste minimization strategies in reducing waste volumes in urban areas of Cameroon?

What are the challenges faced by urban authorities in implementing waste minimization strategies in Cameroon?

1.5 Significance of the study

Findings of the study will provide valuable insights for policymakers in Cameroon, enabling them to assess the effectiveness of existing waste minimization strategies and expose  weaknesses in the current system, the study can inform the development of more robust and sustainable waste management policies. The study will also be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature and serve as a guide to future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the study

The study focus on the effectiveness of urban waste minimization strategy in Cameroon. Empirically, the study will examine the level of public awareness on waste minimization initiatives in urban areas of Cameroon, identify the waste minimization strategies in urban areas of Cameroon, evaluate the effectiveness of waste minimization strategies in reducing waste volumes in urban areas of Cameroon and analyze the challenges faced by urban authorities in implementing waste minimization strategies in Cameroon.

Geographically, the study is delimited to Yaoundé, Cameroon.

1.7 Limitation of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraints are: 

Time: The researcher encountered time constraint as the researcher had to carry out this research alongside other academic activities such as attending lectures and other educational activities required of her.

Finance: The researcher incurred more financial expenses in carrying out this study such as typesetting, printing, sourcing for relevant materials, literature, or information and in the data collection process.

Availability of Materials: The researcher encountered challenges in sourcing for literature in this study. The scarcity of literature on the subject due to the nature of the discourse was a limitation to this study.

1.8 Definition of terms

Urban Waste: Refers to the solid waste generated by households, businesses, institutions, and other urban activities within a city or town. This includes domestic waste, commercial waste, industrial waste, and construction debris.

Waste Minimization: The process of reducing the amount and toxicity of waste generated. This includes practices such as recycling, reusing, and composting to decrease the overall volume of waste that needs to be managed.

Strategy: A plan of action designed to achieve long-term or overall goals. In this context, it refers to the specific approaches and methods implemented to reduce urban waste in Cameroon.

Effectiveness: The degree to which a strategy or policy achieves its intended outcomes. In this case, it involves assessing how well the waste minimization strategies in urban areas of Cameroon are working.