Improper solid waste management at the Duala market, Monrovia-Liberia

. The population of Monrovia is increasing accompanied by rapid urbanization. Due to rapid urbanization, economic development, higher living standards, and changes in consumption patterns and lifestyle, the generation rate of waste has increased. Mismanagement of solid waste tends to hinder any progress toward environmental sustainability. This study endeavored to determine Improper Solid Waste Management at the Duala Market, Monrovia-Liberia examines the connection between population growth, economic development, and the rise in waste production. The study evaluated behavioral factors on a qualitative and quantitative level, including knowledge, attitude, and practices of solid waste management, stakeholder collaboration, and obstacles to sustainable waste management in Monrovia. To display the various socioeconomic groups in the city, households were chosen at random (simple and stratified). The key findings revealed socio-demographic (70%) Waste generated are inadequately disposed of by female, as a result of the large fragment of waste that is still not collected, waste is dumped and burned in the open. followed by intervention to reduce improper waste management accounts (40%) which need public awareness and factors leading to improper waste management accounts (30%), not cognizant of the waste management area. These waste management challenges have become heightened because of insufficient technology to ensure proper management and low budgetary allocations for effective waste management.


Introduction
Global population growth causes a sharp rise in solid waste generation, which has severe social, economic, and environmental effects (Lema et al. BMC Public Health 2019). Although there is currently broad agreement regarding the principles of sustainable solid waste management, there have only been modest efforts made thus far, and these have been tailored to the unique principles and requirements of each national or regional authority. Designing diverse and flexible urban models is necessary for efficient waste management. The population of Monrovia is increasing accompanied by rapid urbanization. Due to rapid urbanization, economic development, higher living standards, and changes in consumption patterns and lifestyle, the generation rate of waste has increased. Mismanagement of solid waste tends to hinder any progress toward environmental sustainability (Wilson 2006). In all waste management plans, the collection of solid waste (SW) is an important step. It ranks among the biggest difficulties facing waste managers everywhere. (Epa, 2002;Tinmaz and Demir;Chalkias and Lasaridi;Ogra, 2013;Chalkias and Lasaridi, 2009). Regardless of the waste management strategies and techniques used, the first step is to collect waste in whatever form it may be. The waste collection plan should be specifically designed to achieve the goals of the intended waste management processing procedure, such as resource recovery or landfilling techniques. mainly solid waste collection including @The Author(s). 2023. Published by CBIORE transportation of people and equipment to a transfer station, treatment facility, or final disposal site (Oelofse et al., 2018;Worrell, 2012). There may be obvious differences in collection methods between developed and developing nations. In most developed countries, the phenomenon of house-to-house collection is very prevalent, especially for the collection of household solid waste (Satterthwaite et al., 2018). However, due to a number of issues, such as financial, population growth, and other economic difficulties, the application of this method has generally been very low, especially in developing countries (Awuak, 2018;Bezama and Agamuthu, 2019). Waste collection systems like communal container collection method seem to be most prevalent in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (Charles Ssemugabo et al. 2020). For households to dispose of their solid waste, this system provides common containers (waste bins) at designated neighborhood locations. After being picked up by trash collection vehicles, these containers are then returned to their original locations after being filled with trash and dumped at designated disposal locations. However, this trash collection method faces many challenges, which frequently result in uncollected trash. As a result, waste is being dumped illegally and overflowing at collection sites (Atkinson et al., 2019). Unplanned placement of communal bins or dump sites could endanger water resources, especially source water sources. After everything is said and done, more questions remain (Kretchy et al., 2019;Boateng et al., 2019;Owusu-Nimo et al., 2019).
For an effective and timely waste management regime, it is first necessary to have data on the geographic location of landfills and dumpsites. As a result, efficient waste collection and consumer satisfaction result, whereas sustained ineffective services result in client dissatisfaction and indiscriminate household waste disposal that could lead to environmental pollution and the spread of disease (Francis-Xavier et al., 2018). It is still largely unknown how effective waste management services are when it comes to human interaction within the waste management delivery domains.
For instance, a comprehensive analysis of customer opinions on the effectiveness of a given waste management provider's services across districts is essentially nonexistent. However, in order to support policy directions and improve sustainable waste management, it is essential to have integrated data about the effectiveness of waste management delivery as well as customer satisfaction.

Research Design
This study used a descriptive survey design. The main advantage of this type of design is that it enables the researcher to assess the situation within the study area at the time of the study. a case study design of a selected market area (Duala Market) in Liberia to understand the process of waste management training in Liberia. Using a descriptive approach is to understand different perspectives about improper waste management in Duala Market, Monrovia-Liberia. The study used several data sources to identify the lacking factors, socio-demography, and interventions in Liberia, including primary data. The preliminary data was collected by distributing interview questions to market women and men, factories worker factory owners, and residents near Duala Market. This research was conducted from July 2022-December. The target population for the study was 300 dues to financial constraints and other limited resources. Those 300 were people (vendors) with a history of day-day activities at the Duala Market community.

Study Location
The study was conducted within the Duala Market, Monrovia-Liberia. The actual survey conducted was undertaken randomly between the months of January to March 2023.

Result and Discussion
The findings of the research on improper solid waste management at the Duala market, Monrovia-Liberia, recruited one hundred vendors out of 300 population size. There were 3 keys area identified as major findings in the study. Table  1 shows the educational level of respondents. The Table 1 shows that, 55% of the venders are primary students, followed by 27% never enter school (None), and 18% are secondary student. This also in acquaintance with, According to Environmental Protection Agency (2013), solid waste management is faced with challenges characterized by the following: low public awareness regarding waste and the risk to public health if not properly handled, poor environmental education, and lack of coordination and participatory approach between stakeholders and policymakers.  by open dumping due to lower capital, operational, and maintenance cost in comparison with other disposal methods. This non-sanitary and non-engineered approach is without appropriate liners, gas collection leachate collection, and treatment, thereby exposing the surrounding environment to multiple air, water, and soil pollution issues. Table-3 depicts the types of waste production, this also includes (40%) of commercial waste, followed by (35%) which were a domestic waste. Agricultural waste accounts for (20%), and the least (5%) of medical waste. This also agrees with Ebeleke 2020, which classified solid waste into different types, depending on their source; household waste is generally classified as municipal, industrial, hazardous, biomedical, or hospital waste as infectious.  Flooding of the city 20 20 City uncleans 14 14 Total 100 100 Table-4 also shows solid waste's impact on health and the environment, which (45%) causes drainages block, followed by (21%) causes diseases outbreak and other health-related issues. Flooding in the city account for (20%), and the least (14%) caused the city unclean. The Department of Civil Engineering et, al.2013 also said, Improper MSW disposal and management causes all types of pollution: air, soil, and water. Indiscriminate dumping of wastes contaminates surface and groundwater supplies. In urban areas, MSW clogs drain, creating stagnant water for insect breeding and floods during rainy seasons. Uncontrolled burning of MSW and improper incineration contributes significantly to urban air pollution (1Department of Civil Engineering et, al. 2013). Table-5 shows waste production between males and females, the study found that, were (70%) female, followed by (30%) accounted for males in waste disposal. This also agrees with Stephen T. Odonkor et., al.2020, an estimate of the volumes and types of HHW accumulated by collection programs, their recycling and reuse options, and treatment and disposal requirements are presented. Recycling, reuse, or disposal of collected wastes depends upon the market for the recycled material, the availability of recycling or disposal facilities, transportation facilities, and the potential to reuse the waste material without treatment.

Source: Researcher's Field Data, 2023
Table-6 also shows interventions to reduce waste exposal. The study also shows (40%) said house-to-house education, followed by (30%) said Community providing bins and dumping sites. Activeness of MCC account (20%), and least (10%) said public awareness. According to Environmental Protection Agency (2013), solid waste management is faced with challenges characterized by the following: low public awareness regarding waste and the risk to public health if not properly handled, poor environmental education, and lack of coordination and participatory approach between stakeholders and policymakers. Insufficient resources directed towards waste management services, inadequate legislative provision, and lack of implementation of policies.   Table-7 findings also shows the types of waste produce, implementation in disposing, frequency of waste production and initiator that undertake waste management process. This data shows various types of waste, implementing to dispose, quantities produce per day and corresponding agency to dispose. This result both household, institutions, NGO/ local and communities are both involved in waste management process in separating the various types of waste to be transported to MCC/GOL for final disposal. According to Sha Cao et. al. 2018, Affected by policy imbalances and the ability and willingness to pay, RSW management services in rural areas in developing countries are much less valued and accessible than those in urban areas. Thus, RSW has become the main cause of pollution in the rural environment, which is often irreversible and threatens the health of residents.

Conclusion
Duala Market vendors had some trouble deciding which items belong in which recycling bin (paper products, plastics, glass). They also generally thought that knowing more about waste management would encourage them to recycle more. These results can be interpreted as a need for educating people more about recycling and proper waste disposal, why it is important, and how it works. The researcher recommends that the MCC along with the government should provide more knowledge about waste disposal and provide bins to all areas. Regulation by MCC or government about waste production management through providing materials and communities education or awareness will reduce improper waste exposal.

Acknowledgment
I am grateful to the almighty God, who has blessed me to survive and granted me the opportunity to attend Diponegoro University. Without this grace, I would not have been alive to pursue this Master of Environmental Science degree program, like several of my former classmates, workmates, and friends who were not fortunate to obtain a degree in environmental science. I also extethank faculty and staff of the School of Environmental Sciences, Diponegoro University for their support of my achievement.
I am astonishingly grateful to Dr. Fuah Muhammad and Dr. Budi Warsito for their constructive support. I also express my appreciation to all professors and Mass for his continued efforts with students' activities. I express my special thanks and appreciation for my family's financial and moral support during this process. I give special thanks and appreciation to my beloved parents, Mr. William S. Zean, and Mrs. Eva Zean, for their joined biological makeup to be called, Gabriel Zean, and also a continued-supports from my Brother, Mr. Thomas Z. Soe for his tireless financial support and lastly to my two kids (Gabriel C. Zean and Gabrietta Zean).