Waste Management

The indicator assesses the proportion of households which dispose of their solid waste in a way that does not threaten their own health of that of other households (arising, for example, from the breeding of flies and rodents or from polluting water sources).

Collect the following data by conducting individual interviews with a representative sample of your target group members:

RECOMMENDED SURVEY QUESTION (Q) AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS (A)

Q1: Can you please show me where and how you usually dispose of your household’s solid waste? 

A1 select all that apply:

1) bury it

2) burn it

3) carry it to a designated trash can/ dump

4) carry it to an unofficial dump

5) other – specify: …………………………

NOTE: Only answers 1-3 count as “safe disposal” (option 3 only if it is an officially-designated place posing no health hazards).

To calculate the indicator's value, divide the number of households that dispose of their solid waste in a safe way (i.e. answers 1-3) by the total number of interviewed respondents. Multiply the result by 100. 

to be added later

For Burying and Burning to be considered safe the following advice should be taken into consideration:

"Bury it": Burial of waste is applicable to material volumes which mainly comprise of organic matter. Plastic waste should not be included, and should be kept apart for recycling. Burial should be in safely managed communal burial sites (rather than at household level sites). These sites must be at least 100m from dwellings, and in locations that have been surveyed as not posing a risk to environmental or water course contamination. Each site should be fenced, to prevent children and animals from entering. The waste should be covered with layers of soil to prevent vectors from landing on the waste. Burial is only suitable where sufficient land is available.

"Burn it": Burning of waste should ideally be carried out at carefully managed sites at communal level, rather than household level. Burning should preferably be carried out in steel, concrete or brick incinerators. Plastic should be kept back and stored for recycling. These sites must be at least 100m from dwellings, and in locations that have been surveyed as not posing a risk to environmental or water course contamination. Each site should be fenced, to prevent children and animals from entering. Arrangements should be made to inspect and remove ash and unburnt matter at intervals, and remove to safe waste burial locations.