Assessing Effects of Polythene Waste on the Urban Environment in Bungoma Town, Kenya

Globally, the urban environment faces many threats, of which polythene waste is also among key ones. This research project aimed at assessing the effects of polythene waste on the urban environment. The study was carried out in Bungoma town, Kenya. Bungoma town is located in Bungoma county, also serving as the headquarter of the county and Bungoma south sub-county. The purpose of the study was to assess effects of polythene waste on the urban environment in Bungoma town Kenya with the view of eliminating or reducing its negative effects. This research project was guided by the following objectives: to establish the sources of polythene waste on the urban environment in Bungoma town, to evaluate the effects of polythene waste to the urban environment in Bungoma town and to identify optional management approaches of polythene waste other than the EMCA, (2017) ban on the urban environment in Bungoma town. The study applied descriptive survey research design. The target population was 17,274 with a sample size of 375 people. Stratified sampling technique was employed whereby business people, residents, officers from NEMA, public health and environment, water and natural resources were be placed in different strata. Random sampling was used to select individuals. Snow ball sampling was also used to sample individual home owners. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules and data was analyzed using measures of central tendency and SPSS. The analyzed data was then presented through tables, Pie Charts and graphs. Validity of instruments was taken care by supervisors and other experts in the field of Geography, while reliability of the instruments was tested through a pilot study and test pre-test of the instruments. The study results will be significant to town planners, policy makers like NEMA and town residents on waste management mechanisms, especially polythene. The study will also be a basis for further research in the field of Geography, Health, Environmental studies among others. Ethical issues of concern were privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, anonymity and researcher’s responsibility. Findings from the study established that sources of polythene waste come from household or domestic waste from residential areas, industries, commercial institutions like supermarkets, wholesale and retail shops, institutions like schools, both private and public and finally other open air businesses. The study also established that negative effects of polythene waste are blockage of drainage channels, production of harmful gas when burned, a hazard to children, reduction of soil fertility, fatal to animals, they are non-biodegradable, are breeding grounds of vectors like mosquitoes, unending in the environment and cause cancer. For management of polythene waste, the study established use of biodegradable papers, involving of the local community, re-use and recycling, proper education, burning by use of incinerators, and enforcement of laws and legislations. This study recommends that NEMA and the ministry of environment are required to intensify their efforts to increase awareness of the public through formal and informal education about the importance of caring about the environment and the dangers of polythene waste, manufacturers, supermarkets, wholesale and retail shop owners should be held responsible for their behavior with respect to the distribution and disposal of polythene waste, in line with the polluter pays principle. Bungoma town waste management strategy should contain waste separation at source to make sure that actors within the recycling chain are guaranteed of less contaminated waste. Manufacturers and commercial institutions, which handle bigger quantities of polythene waste should be facilitated to form associations so as to consolidate their waste for recycling.