The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

Household Solid Waste Management Practice of Women in Woldia Town, Amhara

National Regional State, Ethiopia

Shishigu Abi Admasu

Arega Bazezew

Abstract

Solid waste management (SWM) has become a major challenge in urban areas throughout the world.

Unless people have an active involvement in SWM, it will result in environmental problems and health

hazards. Hence, this study intended to assess women’s practice in effective household SWM at household

level in Woldia town, Ethiopia. Mixed methods research with explanatory research design was employed

for the study. Questionnaires were administered to 210 women who were selected through systematic

sampling technique from three urban kebeles of the town. Interview, observation and FGD were used to

collect qualitative data. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze the

quantitative data while thematic analysis was employed to interpret the qualitative data. The binary

logistic regression model was used to identify factors that determined women’s participation in effective

SWM at household level. The results showed that more than half (61%) of the respondents did not

participate in effective household SWM, and yet, the majority (60%) of them still did not use alternative

solid waste handling methods. The study also noted that lack of support from family members, inadequate

support from the town municipality as well as cultural myths and beliefs were the challenges women

faced to participate effectively in SWM. The study found that age, marital status, educational level and

family size of respondents were the major determinants to participate in effective household SWM. From

these results, it can be concluded that the young age group and the unmarried and/or divorced group of

women were negligent in effective household SWM. Women’s awareness of SWM was found inadequate,

and they were merely involved in managing solid wastes traditionally. The study recommended that

supporting women in utilizing alternative and/or sustainable solid waste handling methods should be

encouraged by the local government.

Keywords: Household, Solid waste management, Women, Woldia, Ethiopia

__________________________________________________________________

Principal investigator, Lecturer in Woldia University, Ethiopia

Co-author, Bahir Dar University, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Ethiopia

1. Introduction

The natural environment is the source of life on earth, and it not only directs human activities in

general but also determines the existence, growth and development of humankind and all its

creativities (Solomon et al., 2014). As Uchegbu (2002) explains, human activities and the

environment are interrelated since all activities of human beings are accomplished in the

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

environment. Hence, the protection and improvement of the environment is a major issue which

affects the wellbeing of people and overall development throughout the world.

Solid waste is an unavoidable by-product of human activities in everyday life. As Davies and

Kudzai (2016) stipulate, household waste is a major concern since it is a source of pollution and

environmental degradation when treated inappropriately. When it comes to the management of

solid waste, women’s multiple roles as mothers, homemakers, educators, entrepreneurs and

producers place a heavy demand on them to preserve the environment (Shettima, 1996). Because

of this, the need to investigate the practice of women in household SWM arises.

Reviewing the related research literature on SWM reveals that women’s practice in the

management process of waste has been overlooked. In addition, studies done for policy makers

on gender-based SWM practice and the impact of the burden that SWM creates for women have

not been studied. Previous studies solely emphasized municipal SWM. More importantly, many

studies ignored the investigation of household SWM practices of women, who are especially

responsible for managing solid waste.

From the point of view of sustainable SWM practice, gender is taken as one of the core issues by

policy makers in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was intended to fill these gaps and would add

knowledge to the existing literature. It is on the basis of this practical research gap that the

researcher decided to conduct a study on the issue and a gender-based study of SWM practices is

justified. Eventually, assessing status of women’s participation, examining the solid waste

handling methods women employed at household level, exploring the challenges women faced to

participate and identifying factors that determined women participation in effective household

SWM in Woldia town were objectives of the study.

2. Conceptual Framework of the Study

Based on the review of related literature, the conceptual framework for the study was developed.

This particular study emphasized demographic, socio-cultural and institutional factors affecting

women’s participation in effective household SWM practice at the household level. Generally,

the main focus and scope of this study is summarized in the following conceptual framework.

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

Figure 1: The relationship between the dependent variable and independent variables

3. Research Methodology

3.1. Research Methods and Design

Mixed methods research with explanatory research design was employed for this study to deal

with women’s diverse experiences and practices in household SWM. This design is

predominantly quantitative supported by a qualitative method while the latter is used to support

the former and give detailed explanation with a few cases.

3.2. Selection of Study Sites and Respondents

The rationale for the choice of Woldia town for this study was based on the 2017 report of the

municipality which stated that the town had a problem with regard to household SWM. The

study used the multi-stage sampling technique to select a sample of women for the questionnaire

survey. In the first stage, simple random sampling was used to select three kebeles (Debre Gelila,

Defergie Kibikalu and Yeju Genet) from the seven kebele administrations. Here, simple random

Practice of

Effective

Household

SWM

Institutional Factors

• Frequency of

waste collection

from household by

waste collectors

• Monitoring and

support from the

town municipality

Socio-cultural

Factors

• Awareness

• Distance of

CWB

• Triple gender

roles

• Status of the

household

Demographic

Factors

• Age

• Educational

level

• Family size

•

Marital

status

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

sampling technique was used because the town municipality confirmed that the situation of

SWM problems was almost similar in all the seven kebeles. In the second stage, stratified

random sampling technique was used to select male-headed and female-headed households from

each kebele, considering that there were women in male-headed households. In each kebele

administration, a list of male-headed and female-headed households were used as a sample frame

with a total of 998. In determining sample size, Kothari’s (2004) formula was applied as shown

below:





.

(



)

.





(



)

².()

Where, z= the value of standard estimates at a given confidence interval (1.96)

p= the estimated percentage or proportion of an attribute in the population (50% = 0.5)

e= the desired level of precision or acceptable error (0.06)

n= representative sample size to be drawn from the population

N= total size of population (household) (998)

By applying the formula, 210 samples were determined from the selected three kebeles. Finally,

systematic sampling technique was applied to select a sample of women for the questionnaire

survey.

For the qualitative component, on the other hand, key informant interview and focus group

discussion were employed. Key informant interviewees were drawn from the town municipality

and health extension office to secure relevant data; they were selected purposively. Four key

informants were interviewed from the town municipality experts and health extension workers.

One focus group discussion composed of eight women – two from each kebele administration.

3.3. Data Collection Instruments

Primary data were collected using questionnaire, key informant interview, focus group

discussion and direct observation. The questionnaire had both closed-ended and open-ended

items. The questionnaire was pilot-tested before the actual data collection to improve the quality

of the items. Four key informants from health extension workers and the staff working at the

municipality as well as two FGDs having eight women in one group were included. Solid waste

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

handling methods women employed, ways of solid waste burning, types of solid waste storage

tool and ways of solid waste disposal were also directly observed.

3.4. Data Analysis

Both quantitative and qualitative data analyses were used for this study. Information on the status

of women’s participation, solid waste handling methods women employed at household level,

challenges women faced to participate and factors determining women participation in effective

household SWM were collected via survey questionnaire. Upon completion of the data

collection, the data were coded, edited and entered into the SPSS version 20 and presented using

descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages and tables. Chi-square test and binary

logistic regression model were also used. The model goodness-of-fit was checked for adequacy

of binary logistic regression model through Omnibus test and Holsmer and Lemeshow, and it

was found fit. Then, the quantitative results were supported or triangulated by the qualitative

results which were analyzed textually and compared with previous studies.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1. Women’s Awareness of Household SWM

From the total respondents, a few (5.7%) had little awareness of SWM (see Figure 2). The result

also showed that more than half of the respondents (54.8%) had no awareness. Having no

awareness had a negative impact on the household SWM practice of women as the interviewees

and focus group discussants reported. The participants of the study stated that women’s practice

of household SWM was influenced by their long traditional experiences. The key informants

reported that having awareness of household SWM helped to keep the environment safe in a

sustainable manner.

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

Figure 2. Women’s awareness of effective household SWM

SWM is influenced by women’s awareness of household solid waste prevention, separation,

reuse or disposal. Based on such conditions, it can be deduced that unless women have

awareness of effective household SWM, their participation could not be effective. Consistent

with this finding, Zurbrugg (2003) stipulated that lack of awareness of the importance of proper

SWM for health and well-being of people severely restricted usage of effective household SWM.

In addition, the findings of many studies (Medina, 2004; Cointreau, 1993) have made similar

conclusions. The Chi-square test also showed that there was statistically significant association

between awareness level and participation of women in effective household SWM (



= 45.978,

df=4, p = 0.000).

4.2. Distance of Community Waste Bin (CWB)

FGD participants, who had no access of CWB around their house and whose house was 1.5km or

more far away from CWB, had difficulty to practice household SWM effectively. The data in

Table 2 shows the absence or distance of residential houses from CWB, and one of the reasons

for ineffective management of solid wastes that were generated at household level. As can be

seen in Table 2, 26% of the respondents reported that they had no container as a waste bin.

Moreover, the lead researcher confirmed the absence of waste bins in some parts of the town

through direct observation.

Table 2: Access of CWB and its distance from house (N=210)

Variables Options Frequency

Percentage

CWB and its distance from house

<0.5 km 24 11.4

0.5-1 km 36 17.1

1-1.5 km 40 19

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

The inaccessibility of CWBs was an obstacle for women to have an effective household SWM.

In line with this result, Spies et al. (2006) also reported that the distance of a family’s house from

the location of a CWB had a negative impact on effective household SWM. Similarly, Ashenafi

(2011) pointed out that the likelihood of disposing of solid waste in an inappropriate way by a

household was affected by the length of the distance of residence from the location of CWBs.

The Chi-square test also revealed that there was a statistically significant association between

distance of CWB from the household and participation of women in effective household SWM

(



=21.468, df=4, P = 0.000).

4.3. Access of municipality waste collectors

The majority of women who did not have the service of municipality waste collectors did not

participate in effective household SWM, as confirmed by the FGD participants.

Table 3. Frequency of access of waste collectors (N=210)

>1.5 km 55 26.2

No CWB 55 26.2

Variables Categories Frequency

Percentage

How often do municipality

waste collectors collect solid

waste from your house?

once in a week 15 7.1

once in two

weeks

57 27.1

once in three

weeks

70 33.3

once in more

than three weeks

46 21.9

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

The data in Table 3 indicate the frequency with which families get the services of garbage

collectors. According to Table 3, frequent access to municipal solid waste collectors had a

positive impact on the management of household solid wastes by women. FGD participants also

reported that there were no municipality waste collectors, or solid waste was seldom collected

from houses, which was a serious problem for effective household SWM. The Chi-square test

result also showed that there was a statistically significant association between frequency of

waste collectors and participation of women in effective household SWM (



=59.657, df=4, =

0.000).

4.4 Solid Waste Handling Methods Women Employ

Figure 3 shows that unless municipality solid waste collectors frequently collect from each

household, collection would not be an appropriate handling method by itself. As many women

employ solid waste collection as a management system, solid waste needs to be frequently

collected by municipality waste collectors from each household. Key informants explained that

women who did not use most types of solid waste handling methods did not practice effective

household SWM. Therefore, using appropriate types of solid waste handling methods was a basis

for women to have an effective household SWM practice. Focus group discussants also disclosed

that there were problems like lack of awareness and inadequate facilities to use control of waste

at source, waste storage and separation at source, collection, transportation and disposal. So, such

limitations hindered women’s solid waste handling methods from being effective.

Not at all 22 10.5

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

Figure 3. Household solid waste handling methods women use

This result is consistent with the work of Cunningham (2009), which found that waste should be

separated at source, and which suggested that other solid waste handling methods for easy

collection and transportation for final disposal should be used. However, it is only a few (4.3%)

of the respondents of the study who employed control of waste at the source. A similar finding

was also reported by Marden (2009), who claimed that control of waste at source greatly reduced

the volume of solid waste. In order to see the association, a Chi-square test was employed and

there was a statistically significant association between solid waste handling methods employed

by women and their participation in effective household SWM (



=49.430, df=6, P=0.000).

4.5. Alternative Solid Waste Handling Methods

More than half (59.5%) of the respondents did not use alternative household solid waste handling

methods. Table 4 showed that women participation in alternative or sustainable household solid

waste handling methods was poor in the study area. This further implied that women practice

was not effective in household SWM. FGD participants pointed out that it was not possible to

carry out waste prevention from the source, reuse or composting due to lack of awareness and

cultural myths. FGD participants also disclosed lack of support from the town municipality for

women to practice alternative or sustainable type of solid waste handling methods.

Table 4. Alternative household solid waste handling methods at household level (N=210)

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

In relation to this, Medina (2004) listed waste preventing, recycling, composting and reuse as

essential elements of alternative or sustainable solid waste handling methods, and these were not

commonly practiced in most households. Medina’s study further elaborated that knowing the

composition and characteristics of waste was essential in order to determine the type and way of

solid waste prevention, recycling, reuse and composting. Accordingly, if waste has high

proportion of organic matter, the possibility of composting and biogas regeneration as a means of

handling waste is a better mechanism than reuse and recycling.

Likewise, the Chi-square test indicated that there was statistically significant association between

alternative household solid waste handling methods women used and their participation in

effective household SWM (



=38.536, df=3, P = 0.000).

4.6 Solid Waste Storage, Types and Tools

Most women, who had no solid waste bins, did not practice effective household SWM since the

probability of throwing away solid waste here and there in an appropriate place increased as the

participants of FGD verified. On the other hand, key informants illustrated that women, who

used temporary solid waste containers, did not practice household SWM in an effective way.

Regarding solid waste containers, women stored solid waste mostly (73.8%) in sacks. The

researcher also observed that most women used sacks as temporary solid waste bins and put the

sacks near their houses. On the other hand, most of the participants of the study (81%) stored all

types of solid waste in one container. The researcher also observed that in most of the

households women stored all types of solid wastes in a single container. While focus group

Variables Categories Frequency

Percentage

Alternative or sustainable

household solid waste

handling methods

Composting 6 2.9

Reusing 57 27.1

Waste preventing 22 10.5

Not using any 125 59.5

Total 210 100

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

discussants argued that lack of awareness and inadequate storage materials forced most women

to keep all types of waste together.

Table 5: Solid waste storage, tools and ways of solid waste storing at household level (N=210)

Table 5 shows that having solid waste container is necessary to have effective type of SWM.

Temporary solid waste bins do not guarantee sustainable and alternative managing of solid

waste. Since permanent solid waste containers were not used by women in the study, this made

their practice of SWM be ineffective.

Abiyot (2014) similarly stated that the type of waste storage used by households had a great

impact on SWM and the majority of households used sacks. When women stored waste

separately, their practice in SWM was effective. Hence, storing of solid waste separately was

quite significant in order to have appropriate SWM. Nevertheless, most of the respondents’

stored solid waste together, and it prevented women from practicing alternative or sustainable

household solid waste handling system. This finding is also in agreement with Samuel (2006),

who indicated that households which stored all types of solid waste in a single container

exhibited inappropriate SWM practice.

Variables Categories Frequency

Percentage

Have you solid waste

container?

Yes 197 93.8

No 13 6.2

Type of storage

Temporary 188 89.5

Permanent 9 4.3

None use 13 6.2

Solid waste container

Plastic bag 42 20

Sack 155 73.8

None use 13 6.2

Ways of storing solid

waste

All together 170 81

Separately 27 12.8

None use 13 6.2

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4.7. Determinant Variables of Women’s Practice in SWM

The binary logistic regression model was employed to establish the relationship between

participation in effective household SWM and a set of explanatory variables. Hulsizer and Woolf

(2009) noted that binary logistic regression has become the preferred tool for predicting

dichotomous outcomes in the social sciences because it is more flexible than any other model.

Hence, binary logistic regression model was employed to establish the relationship between

dependent (participation of women in SWM) and independent variables (demographic,

institutional and socio-cultural factors) affecting women’s SWM practices in the study area.

For that reason, 10 explanatory variables were selected to explain the dependent variable.

However, six independent variables (women’s age category of 25-45 years old, being married,

having a degree, having 4-6 and 7-9 family size, a high level of awareness and a frequency of

waste collection twice and more than twice a week) were determinant factors influencing the

dependent variable.

The Omnibus test of model coefficients had a Chi-square value of 159.468 with 27 degrees of

freedom and was highly significant at p < 0.05, i.e. 0.000, denoting that the predictor variables

selected had a combined effect in predicting the participation of women in effective household

SWM. The predictive efficiency of the model displayed that from all women included in the

model, 91.4% respondents were correctly predicted. The sensitivity (correctly predicted

participating women) and specificity (correctly predicted women not participating) were found to

be 77% and 97.3%, respectively. Therefore, the model was effective in describing the outcome

variable, or it had goodness-of-fit.

The binary logistic regression result indicated that being within the age group of 25-45 increased

the participation of women in effective household SWM by the odds ratio of 1.529 as compared

to women under the age of twenty-five. That is, other variables being constant, women who were

middle-aged were more likely to participate in SWM than younger women were. Therefore, an

age group of women from 25-45 years old had active participation in effective household SWM.

Previous studies provided a strong support for this finding. A study conducted by Ashenafi

(2011) found that household head age and effective household SWM had a significant

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

relationship. However, Tewodros and Samson’s (2009) study found an opposite result in which

age was insignificant in improving participation in waste collection.

Table 7: Determinant variables of women’s practice of effective household SWM

Variables Categories ß S.E Wald Sig Odds ratio

Age < 25 years old (RF)

25-45 years old

46-65 years old

>65 years old

2.864

-0.27

-0.068

1.063

1.141

1.895

7.257

0.001

0.007

0.981

0.971

1.529

0.974

0.934

Marital status Unmarried (RF)

Married

Divorced

Widowed

3.442

-19.333

-14.920

1.642

6349.729

14172.271

4.396

0.000

0.036

0.998

0.999

1.248

0.000

Family size < 4 family size (RF)

4-6 Family size

7-9 Family size

>9 Family size

-2.319

-2.868

-3.075

1.070

1.216

1.958

4.697

5.567

2.465

0.030

0.018

0.116

0.098

0.057

0.046

Educational level Illiterate (RF)

can read and write

first degree

second degree or above

1.487

6.353

24.893

2.015

2.745

25114.174

0.545

5.355

0.000

0.460

0.021

0.999

4.426

4.086

4.956

Status of household Male-headed (RF)

Female-headed

-0.045

0.870

0.003

0.959

0.956

Level of awareness

Very high (RF)

High

Moderate

Less

-2.779

-3.783

-1.900

1.803

1.685

2.383

2.376

5.042

0.635

0.123

0.025

0.425

0.060

0.023

0.153

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

*Significant at 0.05; ns = not significant; RF = reference category

The analysis indicated that, other variables being constant, when women had family sizes of 4-6

and 7-9 as compared to a family size of less than 4, participation in effective household SWM

decreased by the odds ratio of 0.098 and 0.057, respectively. The result was statistically

significant at p < 0.05 in both cases. This means that households with family sizes of 4-6 and 7-9

had less probability of participating in effective household SWM than women with family size of

less than 4. Hence, family size of 4-6 and 7-9 had negative relationship with participation in

effective household SWM. Interviewees and FGD participants in this study highly emphasized

that family size was a significant variable determining the effectiveness of women participation

in effective household SWM. However, this result is contrary to previous studies (Abiyot, 2014;

No awareness -3.110 1.656 3.526 0.060

0.045

Distance of CWB

<0.5 km (RF)

0.5-1 km

1-1.5 km

>1.5 km

No CWB

-0.331

0.007

-1.513

-0.809

0.918

1.019

1.017

0.965

0.130

0.000

2.214

0.703

0.719

0.994

0.137

0.402

0.718

1.007

0.220

0.445

Frequency of waste

collectors

Once a week(RF)

Once in 2 week

Once in 3 weeks

Once in more than 3 weeks

Not at all

-3.798

-5.652

-6.396

-5.768

1.804

1.848

1.856

2.222

4.434

9.356

11.870

6.740

0.035

0.002

0.001

0.009*

0.022

0.004

0.002

0.003

Monitoring and

support of the

municipality

Yes(RF)

1.064 0.822 1.673 0.196

2.897

Triple gender roles Yes(RF)

40.230 14122.931 0.000 0.998

2.96

Constant 2.062 2.931 0.495 0.482 7.859

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

Ashenafi, 2011; Tewodros & Samson, 2009), which found that family size was a statistically

insignificant factor for effective SWM.

The analysis also indicated that educational level of having first degree (Adjusted Odds Ratio

[AOR] =4.086[95% CI: ß=6.353]; P=0.021) was statistically significantly associated with being

a participant in effective household SWM as compared to illiterate women. This means that

women’s educational level of having first degree increased the probability of participation four

times higher than those women who were illiterate. This result is consistent with the works of

Bizzatu and Negga (2010) as well as Kamara (2006), who pointed out that the educational level

of the head of a household had a positive significant effect on effective SWM. In addition, low

educational level of households affects their handling pattern of solid waste in the absence of

practical knowledge about SWM, though that is not always the case (Mesfin, 2006; Samuel,

2006), because some educated individuals either due to negligence or dissatisfaction with the

service of the office, take pessimist action againssolid waste storage and collection practice.

Women who had a moderate level of awareness of household SWM had less probability of

participating in effective household SWM compared to women who had very high level of

awareness. As the binary logistic regression result showed, when women had moderate level of

awareness of household SWM, their participation in effective household SWM decreased by the

odds ratio of 0.023. The result was statistically significant at p < 0.05. Hence, moderate level of

awareness of women of household SWM had a negative relationship with participation in

effective household SWM compared to women with very high level of awareness. In agreement

with this finding, studies by Kamara (2006) and Zhu et al. (2008) indicated that when awareness

increased, the probability of effective SWM would increase.

On the other hand, married women had more probability of participating in effective household

SWM compared to unmarried women, other predictors being constant. The binary logistic

regression result indicated that the participation of married women increased by a factor of 1.248

showing effective household SWM since the result was statistically significant at p < 0.05.

Hence, this study showed that marital status had a significant impact on the participation of

women in effective household SWM. Previous studies did not take marital status as a

determinant variable since the studies were done on household participation rather than on only

women’s particular participation in effective household SWM.

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

Moreover, with respect to frequency of waste collection by the municipality from each

household, it was found that frequency of once in two weeks, once in three weeks, once in more

than three weeks and no waste collectors at all decreased the odds of being a participant in

effective household SWM by factors of 0.022, 0.004, 0.002 and 0.003, respectively. The result

was statistically significant at p < 0.05 in all cases. This means that women whose solid waste

was collected by waste collectors from the municipality from their houses every two, three or

more than three weeks had less probability of participating in effective household SWM than

those women whose waste was collected by waste collectors once in a week. Therefore,

frequency of waste collection by the municipality waste collectors from houses had a negative

relationship with participation in effective household SWM. This result is consistent with the

study of Ashenafi (2011) and Zhu et al. (2008) as both studies found that the frequency of waste

collectors determine households’ effectiveness of SWM.

4.8. Challenges of Women in Effective Household SWM

4.8.1. Lack of support from family members

Table 8: Responses on gaining support for effective household SWM (N=210)

To have an effective type of household SWM, the participation of all the family members is

necessary. Unless there is support for the one who participate, and when the duty is left only for

a single individual, it is quite difficult to practice effective household SWM. In this regard,

participants of FGD replied that the support of family members especially husbands and male

family members was very little or non-existent. One participant of the FGD, for instance,

described the situation as follows:

Variables Options Frequency Percentage

Who supports you to have

effective household SWM in

your family?

Male family

members

3 1.4

Female family

members

93 44.3

No support 114 54.3

Total 210 100

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

To tell you the truth, the task of household solid waste managing is left only for me in the

household. Although my girls occasionally support me, my husband and my boys don’t

even think about helping me to your surprise. Even if my husband and boys do not

participate in the task, their carelessness and indulgence is an obstacle during managing of

household solid waste practice at times.

Moreover, focus group discussants elaborated that the authority of husbands to buy consumer

goods is a challenge with regard to household SWM. Concerning this issue, one participant of

the FGD said:

You know my husband usually buys stuff since I have no power to buy and I do the

household chores. In this situation, most of the stuff he buys is so wasteful and I usually

have a problem in managing waste in a proper or effective way. I always tell him to be

prudent when he buys things, but he doesn’t listen. You can be surprised when I tell you

this, but I am in fact tired of it.

It can be inferred from the above that the responsibility and power husbands have to buy goods

are an obstacle for women to have effective household SWM. In sum, the absence of support

from family members was a challenge for women towards effective household SWM. The study

by Bizzatu and Negga (2010) is consistent with this study’s finding, which stated that the main

challenge of women in SWM is the fact that the responsibility is left for them only in most

households. A Chi-square test was also employed and there was statistically significant

association between gaining support from family members and participation of women in

effective household SWM (



=24.828, df=2, p=0.000, p<0.05).

4.8.2 Inadequate support of municipality and health extension personals

The majority (76.67%) of the respondents did not receive support from the town municipality

and health extension personnel in terms of collecting solid waste, while a few of the respondents

did.

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

Figure 5. The municipality’s monitoring and support for women in household SWM practice

As per the survey result of the study and the researcher’s personal observation, due to inadequate

waste collection services from the municipality, waste wwas dumped in nearby river, open space,

drain and/or burned openly everywhere. Similar to the direct observation of the researcher, the

focus group discussion participants of the study said that solid waste was disposed in many parts

of the study area illegally or ineffectively. The participants said that this inefficiency was caused

by lack of equipment as well as monitoring and support from the municipality. In such

conditions, it can be inferred that the inadequate monitoring and support of the town

municipality and the health extension workers was a challenge for women to have effective types

of household SWM practices. Concerning this, the focus group discussants pointed out:

The municipality by itself collects household solid waste from every household and burns

it in places near residential areas. At one time they advise us to have a proper type of

household solid waste management while at another time they themselves practice

improper solid waste handling methods. What can we say and do here? Hence, from the

beginning the support of the municipality is inadequate and such actions or failures of the

municipality really negatively affect women’s participation in effective household SWM.

Inadequate support from the municipality and health extension personnel is also believed by key

informants that there was no organized and formal support with regard to household SWM since

much attention had been given to municipal SWM.

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

On the other hand, focus group discussants explained that the town municipality and health

extension workers created awareness of household SWM in women with the exclusion of men.

Focus group discussants elaborated this issue as follows:

Frankly speaking, it is hard to say that we have gotten enough support from the town

municipality and health extension workers about household SWM. However, when they

created awareness or provided training, our husbands were not invited. Because of this,

we lack the support of our husbands since they did not participate in the awareness

creation training or education.

Key informants from the town municipality and health extension workers also recognized the

above problem and replied that it was due to the culture of the community that when training was

organized it was only women who came, though men were also informed to attend. Hence, the

informants emphasized that it was a challenge to women, and work needed to be done in this

regard. Moreover, focus group discussants described that the town municipality and the health

extension workers only ordered women what and how to do rather than helping women

understand the significance of managing household solid waste. This by implication does not

help women to participate in effective household SWM since they do not understand the issue

from the beginning. Thus, a financially and logistically weak municipality and lack of awareness

creation were big challenges for women in effective household SWM.

This finding is in line with what was reported by Zurbrugg (2003), who confirmed that

inadequate service coverage and operational inefficiency of service was the main challenge in

SWM in developing countries. Similarly, UNDP (1996) also pointed out that effective solid

waste management depended upon appropriate monitoring and support from institutions like the

municipality for households.

4.8.3 Cultural myths and beliefs

The survey data showed that around 84% of women were influenced by cultural traditions and

beliefs in managing of household solid wastes in an appropriate way (Table 9). FGD participants

noted that women who were influenced by cultural myths and beliefs usually employed

inappropriate types of practices in managing solid waste.

Table 9: Influence of cultural myths and beliefs on effective household SWM (N=210)

Variables Options Frequency

Percentage

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According to focus group discussants, the culture of the society towards solid waste and its

management had a serious impact on women’s practice in managing solid waste. One participant

of the FGD expressed the following concerning cultural myths and beliefs:

At times I want to tell my husband and boys to help me with our household solid waste

disposal or collection. However, I worry about what my neighbors would say when they

see my husband and boys collect waste, so I do it myself at that moment. Even when my

husband and boys offer help I sometimes decline their offer. Moreover, when I want to

use solid waste again, I am worried that it will affect the reputation or honor of the family

and because of it I stop reusing solid waste.

Likewise, women’s attitude or view about solid waste and its management had an effect on their

participation. In this regard one participant of the FGD expressed the following:

For me, I do not want to see my husband participating in household solid waste

management. He will be despised by the society if he does household chores which the

society considers as a woman’s responsibility. Therefore, I try to do it myself but I may

not practice effective household SWM due to the heavy burden of household chores.

Even so, I am not happy if my husband is involved in such a woman’s responsibility.

Based on the above statements of the participants in the FGD, it can be inferred that it is not only

the culture of the community, but the attitudes or beliefs of women themselves also poses a

challenge in having an effective household SWM. So, the result shows that cultural myths and

beliefs were challenges women faced in having appropriate household SWM. Samuel’s (2006)

and Yitayal’s (2005) studies are also in agreement with this study finding as their studies

characterized culture of the community as a hindrance to effective SWM. The Chi-square test

also showed that there was statistically significant association between influence of culture of the

society and women participation in effective household SWM (



=87.640, df=1, p=0.000).

Do cultural myths and

beliefs challenge you in

household SWM?

Yes 177 84.3

No 33 15.7

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

5. Conclusion and the Way Forward

SWM has become a serious agenda worldwide since it is a major cause of environmental

pollution and human health risks. Based on the large body of literature on SWM, it can be

concluded that household level of SWM and women’s practice has been overlooked. When

women’s practice is ineffective when it comes to SWM, it leads to substantial negative

environmental and health impacts. Hence, based on the findings of the study the following

conclusions are drawn.

The poor practice of women in household SWM resulted from traditional and backward ways of

waste management. In relation to this, lack of waste management facilities and absence of waste

collectors from households made women’s household solid waste practice inefficient. Moreover,

inappropriate practice of women in storing solid waste without separating waste in accordance

with its nature becomes problematic for disposal, recycling or reuse of waste.

Younger women and unmarried or divorced women were negligent in household SWM. Middle-

aged and married women, educated women and women who had small family size were active

participants in effective SWM. On the other hand, women who had no awareness of effective

household SWM and who did not gain the service of waste collectors frequently practiced

household SWM inappropriately.

The task of SWM was taken as the responsibility of women in households. For that reason,

family members did not support women to practice an appropriate kind of household SWM. This

was due to culturally deep-rooted myths and beliefs of the community that household chores are

given to women exclusively. Furthermore, inadequate monitoring and support from the town

municipality and health extension workers made women’s involvement in SWM poor and

inappropriate.

Based on the findings of this study, the town municipality and health extension workers have to

provide adequate education and awareness of how to handle solid wastes effectively. The town

municipality should also provide adequate CWBs near households since one of the basic

obstacles to women in properly managing solid waste in the study area was inaccessibility of

CWBs. There also have to be enough municipality waste collectors who collect solid waste from

each household regularly. Women should use solid waste separation at source as a main waste

The Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences Volume 6, Number 2, December 2020

handling method. Because once solid waste is separated at source, it will not be challenging

during collection and transportation for final disposal. Women should also employ alternative or

sustainable solid waste handling methods like waste preventing, reuse or composting as a waste

handling method because those are friendly to the environment and have a sustainable impact on

human health.

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