Assessing the challenges of laborers in solid waste management: a critical study on Kalmunai Municipal Council

Abstract

Solid waste management is one thing just about every city government provides for its residents. While service levels, environmental impacts and costs vary dramatically, solid waste management is the most important municipal service. As Municipal Council faces various types of challenges in solid waste management in Kalmunai Municipal Council, also it faces a different variety of challenges socially, economically and geographically. Even though the government of Sri Lanka gives a municipal budget to every Municipal Council Kalmunai faces many challenges in solid waste management. This research aims to explore the challenges faced by labourers and the management body in solid waste management. As this research is a socio-environmental study, both quantitative and qualitative models were used for data collection purposes. 20 questionnaires were used for data collection from labourers about the challenges they face. For getting data about the challenges faced by labourers. Six key informant interviews were held with stakeholders in the solid waste management unit of Kalmunai Municipal Council to have wide knowledge about the challenges faced by the solid waste management body in Kalmunai Municipal Council. The compost yard located in Periya Neelavana and the recycle center in Maruthamunai were visited for observation. As a finding, Labors of Kalmunai Municipal Council face social, economic, physical challenges in solid waste collection.