UNIVERSITY OF ESWATINI

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND

PLANNING

Assessment of waste generation and management in two urban informal settlements in

Manzini. A comparative study between KaKhoza and Mangwaneni urban informal
settlement.

By

Nomsa Nomcebo Sihlongonyane

154436

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1.1. Introduction

Historically human population was predominantly uncivilized, with merely 3% living in

urban areas. Their lifestyle greatly depended on agriculture, hunting and gathering for their
survival (Ugwuanyi, 2012). Over the years there has been an unprecedented growth of urban
population in the world which created a tremendous demand of the utilization of resources
(Yeh, 2012).Population growth and urbanization is typically associated with increased
utilization and consumption of energies which has affect the environment negatively (Khan,
2021).

The unprecedented population growth and urbanization in cities has overwhelmed the state
and urban city municipalities’ capacities in providing adequate and affordable shelter and
basic services (Vij, 2021). Due to limitation of housing in urban areas burgeoning of urban
slums, informal settlements and squatters around cities in developing countries (Jones, 2017).
It is common that between 30% and 60% of the urban population dwell in urban informal
settlement in many cities in the world Zapata, 2013). Globally is has been estimated that the
number of people living in urban informal settlements is increasing by 10% yearly (William,
2019). Urban population living in informal settlements are mostly neglected of basic formal
services such as formal solid waste collection services (Zapata, 2019).

Waste is a vital part of everyday human existence. Nowadays, waste is also produced as a
result of society’s attempt to solve other environmental problems such as water and air
pollution (Cayumil, 2021). Some of these increasing amounts of waste give rise to new
problems, such as sewage sludge and residues from cleaning of flue gases. Waste can be
produced from different sources, while chief sources of waste are mostly industries and
households (Gutberlet, 2017). Waste can be classified based on their sources of origin for
example Chemical Waste, Agricultural Waste, Domestic Waste, Industrial Waste and
Commercial Waste (Tassie Wegedie, 2018). Furthermore it can be classified based on their
types such as Solid waste, Liquid waste, and Gaseous waste also waste can be classified as
biodegradable and non-biodegradable. In general, the waste might be ordered into the
accompanying classes: Solid Waste– These is the undesirable substances that are disposed of
by human culture (Omollo, 2019). This may include metropolitan, rural, biomedical, and
radioactive waste. Liquid Waste- Wastes created from washing, flushing, or fabricating
cycles of ventures are called fluid wastes (Omollo, 2019). Gaseous Waste – These are the
wastes delivered as gases from cars, plants, or consuming non-renewable energy sources like
oil. They get blended in different gaseous climates and sporadically cause occasions like
brown haze and corrosive downpour (Muheirwe, 2023).

The management of the generated waste is one of the world’s economic, environmental and
economic phenomenon mostly in developing regions like Africa (Abdel-Shafy, 2018).
Although the volume of waste generation in Africa is relatively small compared to developed
regions, there is exceedingly poor management of waste which greatly impacts environment
and human health (Godfrey, 2020). When comparing developing regions ‘population to those
in developed regions, populations in developing countries, mainly the urban poor in informal
settlements, are greatly impacted by unsustainably managed waste. In this developing

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countries (which are third world countries in terms of economies), more than 90% of waste
generated is usually disposed in unregulated dumps or openly burned (Khan, 2022). These
uninformed practices perpetuate serious health, safety, and environmental consequences.
Unmanaged waste functions as a breeding ground for disease vectors, contributors of global
climate change through methane generation and combustion, and can even encourage urban
violence (Mwangi, 2011). This mismanagement of waste could further expedite harmful
environmental and socioeconomic distresses in regions or countries (Njoroge, 2014). Proper
regulations for waste management and recycling are required to control the damage from the
pollution caused by waste generated from everywhere. Without them, improper waste
management through disposal can cause adverse health outcomes, through water, soil and air
contamination (Bikash, 2022).

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Manzini as the hub of Eswatini and the favourite destination of migrants over the years had
experienced the growth of urban informal settlements. The major challenge of the growth of
urban informal settlements is solid waste generation and management due to the way people
handle and dispose the solid waste for example littering along corridors of houses, throwing
solid waste in drainage channels ,putting solid plus collection in sacs that usually result into
houseflies and other insects being attracted on those illegal dumping areas that may lead to
other issues like easy spread of diseases to the residents .In Eswatini there is a lack of updated
comprehensive data and understanding regarding the assessment of waste generation and
management practices in these settlements.

This research aims to address this gap by conducting a comparative study between two urban
informal settlements, namely KaKhoza and Mangwaneni, to assess their waste generation
rates and evaluate the effectiveness of waste management strategies in place. The findings of
this study will provide valuable insights into the current state of waste management practices
in these settlements and facilitate the development of targeted interventions to improve waste
management and environmental conditions in urban informal settlements in Manzini.

1.3. Objectives
 To compare the waste generation and management in the KaKhoza and Mangwaneni
urban informal settlements in Manzini.
 To examine the knowledge, the socio-economic and demographic factors influencing
waste generation and management practices in KaKhoza and Mangwaneni
 To examine the socio-economic and demographic factors influencing waste
generation and management practices in KaKhoza and Mangwaneni.
 To examine the socio-economic and demographic factors influencing waste
generation and management practices in KaKhoza and Mangwaneni.

1.4. Research questions

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  What socio-economic and demographic factors influence waste generation and
management practices in KaKhoza and Mangwaneni?
 What is the environmental impact of improper waste management practices in the
KaKhoza and Mangwaneni settlements, including pollution, health hazards, and
ecological degradation?
 How effective are the waste management strategies and systems in place in the
KaKhoza and Mangwaneni settlements, specifically in terms of waste collection,
segregation, disposal, and recycling?
 What are the existing waste management practices and infrastructure in the KaKhoza
and Mangwaneni urban informal settlements?
 What is the quantitative difference in waste generation rates between the KaKhoza
and Mangwaneni urban informal settlements in Manzini?

1.5. Research significance

This study is of significance at the national level as well as the municipal /local level. At the
national level, this study will assist the government, as well as agencies and NGOs which are
working to improve solid waste management, to get a clearer understanding of what is
actually happening in low income urban informal settlements. At the municipal/local level,
the findings of this study will enable policy makers and implementers to gain a clearer
understanding of the attitude of the low-income urban informal settlements towards domestic
solid waste management, and to the constraints and challenges that they face in playing their
role of keeping their environment clean.

1.5. Limitations of the study

The study takes place over a period of two academic semesters and coupled with its nature, it
is bound to face some challenges. Some of the challenges will surely include:

Limited Financial Resources

The research will be an academic study lacking of sponsorship from established bodies.
Considering the costs associated with such studies including traveling costs, purchasing of
materials for the research project which include a file folder, and cost of printing copies as
the final document should be in hard copy, financial strain usually come up.

Distance covered

It is likely that respondents reside and/or work in different locations which will make it a
little difficult to conduct interviews. More often than not interviewers will need to travel long
distances to conduct an interview at a time.

Language barrier

While majority of respondents may have good communication in English, it is possible that
some of them, especially those who are illiterate not to understand questionnaires related in

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English. In such cases therefore, translation from English to native language SiSwati will
come in handy. Translating questionnaires is a little cumbersome as some world like children
have separate meaning in these two languages (children in English may means a young
person especially between infancy and puberty, while in SiSwati term children is an inclusive
term as grown-ups may be accommodated.

1.6. Definition of terms

Household: This is a family that exists as a separate entity.

Population: This is the total number of elements that one can investigate.

Solid waste generation: The amount of waste created by residences or businesses over a
certain amount of time (day, year, etc.). Waste generation includes all materials discarded,
whether or not they are later recycled or disposed in a landfill.

Solid waste management: This refers to all the activities of handling, treating, conditioning,
transporting and disposing of waste

Solid waste: Any materials, garbage or refuse that are not prime products; for which the
person who is generating the material has no further use in terms of his or her own purpose of
production, transformation or consumption; and which he or she wants to dispose of but does
not intend to dispose of by using a pipeline (UNEP 2010).

Urban area: Any built-up area of a country that is under the jurisdiction of a municipality.

Waste disposal: This means the burial, discharge, abandoning, dumping, placing or releasing
of litter into or onto land, air or water.

Waste generation: This describes all the activities that produce waste, for example food
processing, construction and office work.

Waste management: This is are characteristic events which include – (1) collection,
transportation, treatment and disposal of waste, (2) controlling, observation and regulation of
the production, assembling, carrying, handling and disposal of waste and (3) prevention of
waste production through in-process modifications, reuse and recycling (United Nations,
2016).

Waste: Are materials that are not prime products (that is, products produced for the market)
which may be generated during the extraction of raw materials, the processing of raw
materials into intermediate and final products, the consumption of final products, and other
human activities for which the generator has no further use in terms of his/her own purposes
of production, transformation or consumption, and of which he/she wants to dispose (United
Nations, 2016).

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