Health Issues of Dwellers around the Urban Solid Waste Dumpsites in Sri Lanka: Comparative Analysis of Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala and Badulla Urban Areas

Abstract

Improper urban solid waste management will directly and indirectly affect the land, water and air; causing multifarious human health and environmental risks. However, such issues cannot be wiped-off completely, but its volume and risk levels could be minimized and managed at an acceptable point. Accordingly, the prime objective of this is to identify and compare the health issues related to urban solid waste disposal; among the selected study areas according to its geographical variations and provide possible solutions in terms of mitigation and management. Colombo and Kandy municipalities from wet agro-ecological zone and Kurunegala and Badulla municipalities from intermediate agro-ecological zone were incorporated as samples for this study. These four sample study areas were selected considering its different elevation ranges and the prominent urban areas with different geographical features and existence of crucial solid waste related issues; following the mingle of both purposive and stratified sampling methodology. Total 867sample households were selected, following stratified random sampling technique. The structured and semi structured questionnaires were also used to collect primary data from various target groups. The collected primary data were coded and analyzed, using Microsoft Excel and SPSS, ANOVA and ANOVA Scheffe’s as appropriate. The study identified 23 types of similar diseases in all selected sample areas; however its volume and the risk level are varied; based on its geographical factors, population density, volume of waste generation/collections, literacy level, income level, public behaviors etc. Out of total health issues, the Colombo site accounts for 45.6%, Kandy-21.4%, Badulla-17.6% and Kurunegala-15.4%. Further, this study found that 56.7% of female populations have been victimized with different types of health issues, than the males (43.3%), since they spent more time around the dumpsites as housewives and waste pickers. Similarly, 65.5% of children population, 75% of waste pickers and 70% of waste collectors/vehicle drivers have also been affected by multiple health problems, due to the direct contact with waste dumpsite. This study recommends central point for managing, monitoring and controlling all process of environmental related activities and implementation of integrated solid waste management (ISWM) system, consolidating all related factors of waste management hierarchy into a center point.