Developing Sustainable Waste Management Practice: Application of Q Methodology to Construct New Strategy Component in Limbe – Cameroon

Abstract

Abstract:The most important motivation for developing new waste management strategy and policy relates to the waste management behavior of individuals. Education led campaigns and capacity building programmes involving third sector organizations in waste management are gaining momentum, in some major cities in Cameroon. There is however, a need to use research methodologies to investigate elements of waste management behavior to understand how to change behaviour permanently. Although the use of quantitative research methods to quantify or measure human attitude and behavior is subject to debate, to drive the research agenda, this research work uses Q methodology which combines both quantitative and qualitative research methods in generating understanding about waste management attitudes and behavior in Limbe, Cameroon. Limbe was chosen in the study because of the increase in the third sector organizations with waste management objectives with the possibility to generate knowledge that can contribute to policy formulation and the construction of a new strategy component based on sustainable waste management practices. In this study, 30 participants were chosen by stratified random sampling technique from three different residential areas e.g. the high, medium and low income and provided with a Q study information pack. Principal Component Analysis resulted in eight factors representing distinctive behavioral patterns to household waste management in Limbe. The result from this study shows a statistically significant proportion of residents in Limbe are willing to go "green" but are in need for information on sustainable waste management practices e.g. in composting, recycling, reuse, reduce, waste prevention and minimization. In this light, Q methodology was able to identify potential ambassadors to promote the sustainable waste management agenda through an education led campaign and capacity building in Limbe. The results of this research will influence government policies and actions in the construction of a new waste strategy component for the wider community in Cameroon.

Municipal solid waste management under decentralisation in Uganda

“…Sorted items are either sold or re-used by the sorters. Willingness to sort is not associated (c 2 , P ¼ 0.05) with family income as opposed to the findings in Limbe, Cameroon (Mbeng, Phillips, & Fairweather, 2009). This can be attributed to greater awareness that exists among Ugandan urban community about the financial values of some waste items.…”

“…Some households and individuals, practice solid waste recycling, re-use, recovery, and composting and biogas production. These are waste minimisation options with social, economic and environmental benefits recommended by some authors like Mbuligwe and Kassenga (2004) for Tanzania, Mbeng et al (2009) for Cameroon, Rotich et al (2006) for Kenya and Wang et al (2008) for china. Local authorities in Uganda have shown little interest in these alternative waste management methods.…”

“…Mbeng et al (2009) identified information as critical for the success of the 3Rs in waste management.…”

The levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in individuals occupationally exposed to municipal solid waste in Ogun State, South West Nigeria

“…Participants were selected by purposive sampling in line with previous study by Mbeng (2009) and Mbeng et al (2009). The study groups included nonwaste healthy male and female (0.9:1.1) workers (n ¼ 100) and male and female (0.9:1.1) MSW management workers (n ¼ 180) from five private waste companies in Ijebu-Ode, AgoIwoye and Sagamu of Ogun State, South West of Nigeria.…”

Levels of Clara cell secretory protein and surfactant protein A in municipal solid waste management workers in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

“…Waste management workers (WMWs) were recruited from four dumpsites in Ibadan, namely, Ajakanga in Oluyole Local Government Area (LGA), Aba-Eku in Ona-Ara LGA, Lapite in Akinyele LGA, and Awotan in Ido LGA. Selection of these subjects from the four dumpsites was by purposive sampling technique in line with previous study by Mbeng et al (2009) and based on the set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Generally, individuals with conditions and practices which are capable of influencing results of the present study were not recruited for the study.…”