Component Determinants Of Handling Plastic Pollution In Lodwar Town, Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

The problem of throwing away plastic has become a significant concern for the environment and people's health. This is especially true in many developing countries (Adeniran et al., 2022). Due to rapidly growing populations and recent economic growth in these places, there is increased use of natural resources and more plastic waste being created. According to a report from the OECD in October 2024, plastic production, usage, and disposal are expected to rise by 70 percent every 12 years until 2040 (Policy Scenarios for Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040, n .d.). In Africa and several other developing countries, the handling of plastic waste is inadequate, primarily because there isn't enough funding or personnel to address the problem (Alabi et al., 2019). This issue continues to be a significant challenge in the town of Lodwar. This study investigated various factors that affect how people in Lodwar town, Turkana County, manage plastic waste. The research aimed for four primary goals: initially, to learn how community involvement in managing plastic waste makes a difference; second, to assess how well the "polluter pays principle" works; third, to examine how planning and collaboration among different groups help; and fourth, to evaluate how recycling techniques assist in managing plastic waste. A descriptive study with a cross-sectional design was utilized, including a sample of residents, local workers, NEMA staff, and county health officials. Fisher's formula was applied to choose 384 residents for participation. The information was verified to ensure it was accurate, consistent, complete, and uniform before analysis. The data was analyzed employing both descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS version 26. Summary metrics included averages, rates, proportions, and standard deviations. Regarding the inferential statistics, multiple regression analysis and correlation tests were conducted. The results were presented using pie charts, frequency tables, and bar graphs. All four factors were discovered to have a positive correlation with managing plastic waste, and the results were statistically significant. Community participation exhibited a coefficient of 0.295 and a p value of 0.013. For the "polluter pays principle," the coefficient was 0.285 with a p-value of 0.023. Planning and coordination had a coefficient of 0.118 with a p-value of 0.002, and the coefficient for recycling techniques was 0.280 with a p-value of 0.030. All four factors had a substantial positive effect. The study shows that participation in activities like sorting, reusing, and paying for collection fees is crucial. The "polluter pays" principle can significantly influence how plastic waste is managed in Lodwar town.