Towards an Efficient Household Solid Waste Collection System: The Case of Kapsoya Neighbourhood, Eldoret City-Kenya

Solid waste management is a major global environmental and public health concern, particularly in rapidly urbanising areas where waste generation often exceeds collection and disposal capacity. In Kenya, challenges associated with waste collection, segregation, transportation, and disposal continue to constrain the effective management of municipal solid waste. In Eldoret City, these challenges highlight the need for improved and spatially optimised waste collection strategies. This study investigated the status of household solid waste management in Kapsoya neighbourhood, Eldoret City, with the aim of developing optimal household solid waste management options. The study adopted a descriptive research design and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques. A sample of 363 households was targeted, of which 349 responded, representing a response rate of 96.1%. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while GIS-based spatial analysis was applied to identify suitable waste bin locations. The findings revealed variations in household waste generation between Kapsoya Site and Service and the surrounding neighbourhoods, with mean generation rates of 2.39 kg/hh/day and 0.73 kg/hh/day, respectively. Organic waste constituted the largest proportion of household waste at 45.3%. Furthermore, 68.8% of households reported mixing wet and dry waste, indicating limited source segregation. The study concludes that household solid waste management in Kapsoya neighbourhood requires improvements in source segregation, collection efficiency, and the spatial planning of waste collection infrastructure. It recommends the adoption of a three-stream waste segregation system comprising organic, recyclable, and residual waste; the strategic installation of waste collection bins; and the integration of GIS-based spatial analysis. These measures could improve collection efficiency, reduce illegal dumping, and promote environmentally sustainable household solid waste management in Kapsoya neighbourhood.