DETERMINANTS OF SUSTAINABILITY OF E-WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECTS BY NAIROBI COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Abstract

Old appliances which have reached their end-of-life may not be very useful to their owners; however, they still need to be disposed properly. E-waste has been put on the priority waste streams list and is among the fastest growing waste streams (EEB, 2001). Managing e-waste encompasses not just the disposal or recycling, but also the pre-disposal logistics involved in collecting and transporting the waste. It also includes strategies for reducing the total waste generated, in line with the 4R principle - ‘Reduce, Recover, Reuse and Recycle’. This study sought to establish the determinants of sustainability of e-waste by Nairobi County Government by reviewing recycling training, regulations, technology and analysing the rationale for trans-boundary movement of E-waste. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a target population of 325 employees of the department of waste management at Nairobi County Government at various departmental levels. The sample size was 99 respondents which is 30% of the target population. The sampling technique to be employed was stratified random sampling. This is because the respondents were stratified into three categories that is, departmental heads, supervisors and the support staff. The study collected both primary and secondary data. Data was analysed and presented using percentages and frequency tables. The tool of analysis was the regression analysis, measures of central tendency and the chi-square. The study found a significant relationship between regulations, recycling and disposal training, technology, trans-boundary movement and sustainability of E-waste management projects. The study concludes that regulations would lead to an increase in sustainability of E-waste management projects, recycling and disposal training would lead to an increase in sustainability of E-waste management projects, technology would lead to an increase in sustainability of E-waste management projects and trans-boundary movement would lead to an increase in sustainability of E-waste management projects. The study recommends that the government should put forth regulations that promote E-waste management. The government should encourage recycling and disposal training to educate people on issues to do with waste management. The waste management institutions should change their activities with the changing technologies. There should be the development of an international convention dealing specifically with waste management.