Household Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Solid Waste Segregation and Recycling: The Case of Urban Kampala

This article investigates households’ knowledge, attitudes and practices on the separation and recycling of solid waste in Kampala, Uganda. A survey was administered to 500 households randomly sampled from Kampala. The results indicate that, although the public is aware of solid waste separation and recycling practices, it has not participated in such initiatives. The results also indicate that participation in solid waste separation activities depends on the level of awareness of recycling activities in the area, household income, educational level and gender. It is, therefore, argued that increasing accessibility to recycling facilities is the best means of promoting positive attitudes to solid waste separation activities. One of the effective strategies identified by households that can be initiated by policymakers in government and urban authorities to increase the rate of participation in separation activities and eventually encourage them to participate in recycling activities is to provide easily accessible recyclable collection centres in all residential areas in urban Kampala