Platic recycling in Dodoma

Platic recycling in Dodoma

Posted by Mogha, Daud P

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1:0 INTRODUCTIONS 1:1 Background of the study……………………………………………………………..1 1:2 Study objectives……………………………………………………………………...1 1:3 General objectives: To examine the economic benefit of collecting plastic bottles to plastic bottle collectors in recycling process……………………………………………..1 1:4 Specific objectives: 1.4.1. Identifying the use of income obtained from selling plastic bottles……………….1 1.4.2. To examines the economic future plans of bottle collectors……………………….1 1.4.3. To assess the contribution of income to welfare of the bottle collectors……….......1 2:0 Literature review. 2.1 Introduction to objectives……………………………………………………………..2 3:0 Findings 3.1 In relation to objectives……………………………………………………………..3-5 4.0 Discussion……………………………………………………………………….....5-10 4.1. Why this is the dominant issue. 5:0 Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………..11 6.0 Appendix; attach & questionnaire…………………………………………………… 7.0 References. Background of the study; The first controversy of recycling arose in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The plastics industry managed to fend off trouble by launching a massive public-education campaign. By the late 1960s, plastics were increasingly seen as a symbol of an outdated 1950s consumer culture. The term "plastic" became an insult, used to describe someone thought of as soulless. However, this led to a problem as well, since the consumption of massive amounts of plastic goods led to a massive problem with litter and waste disposal. Plastic was almost too good, as it was durable and degraded very slowly. In some cases, burning it could release toxic fumes. There was also the problem that manufacturing plastics often created large quantities of nasty chemical pollutants, and depleted the Earth's bounded supply of fossil fuels. By the 1990s programs were common in the United States of America and South Africa. Thermoplastics re-melted and reused, and thermo set plastics grounded up and used as filler, though the purity of the material degraded with each reuse cycle. Also much of the population's decisions are based upon convenience. For instance, just 10 years ago it was common in Tanzania for people to purchase milk in glass bottles, and then leave them on their door step to be replaced. This process was instituted to provide fresh, toxin-free milk, and the glass bottles were always reused. So it was an environmentally friendly service for this reason as well. As time passed, consumers cared less about the environmental concerns and more that they could purchase the amount of milk they wanted in lightweight and easy to pour plastic cartons without having to rely on a service. Informal waste recycling is a common way to earn income for the urban poor in developing countries. There are few reliable estimates of the number of people engaged in waste picking or of its economic and environmental impact. Yet studies suggest that when organized and supported, waste picking can spur grassroots investment by poor people, create jobs, reduce poverty, save municipalities money, improve industrial competitiveness, conserve natural resources, and protect the environment. Three models have been used to organize waste pickers: micro enterprises, cooperatives, and public-private partnerships. These can lead to more efficient recycling and more effective poverty reduction. Study objectives General objectives; examine economic benefits of collecting plastic bottles to plastic bottle collectors in recycling process. Specific objectives; (a) To identify the use of income obtained from selling plastic bottles. (b) To examine future plan of bottles collectors. (c) Assesses the contribution of income to the welfare of the bottles collectors. 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction to objectives. This study has pass through different views of different scholars, who wrote about bottle collection and bottle recycling process. Example studies made by Enger,(2002) $Morris show that the income generated from bottle collection and selling are used for establishing small enterprises and to meet their daily needs likewise Amos,(2008)& Cunningham argue that the income raised by collecting and selling plastic bottle is used for paying house rent buying agricultural input and for treatment and to meet other domestic needs .Frank (2009) & Gets explain that the income is used for rehabilitation of houses and paying the school fees for their children. Hays, (2008) & Mchome, (2011) Cunningham (2007) in their study show that, the income gained from collection and selling of plastic bottle, contribute in improving welfare of people through helping to obtaining their daily needs. And bring the revenue to the community and sustain their needs though is for small rate. UNMIK (2010) & Albert (2010) in their study show that future plan of bottle collectors is to invest on petty projects and entrepreneurships, other collectors plan to continue in collecting bottles because they do not have money to invest in other activities. Also it seems that to some bottle collectors is blessing since get soft drinks. They are planning to expand their project of bottle collection in Pristine and all over the Kosovo 3.0 Findings; In the study we have found that the income obtained from selling plastic bottles were used in buying food, paying house rent as meeting others necessary daily needs in their community. Table 1.1 shows a summary of uses of income generated from selling plastic bottles. What are the uses of income generated from your activities Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 16 1 3.1 3.1 3.1 To pay house rent 7 21.9 21.9 25.0 Buying food 9 28.1 28.1 53.1 Others 15 46.9 46.9 100.0 Total 32 100.0 100.0 The second specific objectives of the study were to found out the economic future plan of bottle collectors. The results of the study indicated that most of the bottle collectors plan to invest in other small project which is indicated by blue color, to extend the collection of plastic bottle as indicated by green color and those who do not know as indicated by purple color. Pie chart 1.2 shows the plan future of bottle collectors The third specific objectives of the study were to assess the contribution of income to the welfare of the bottle collectors. The results of the study indicated that the bottle collectors intend to invest on petty projects and entrepreneurships, other collectors plan to continue in collecting bottles because they do not have money to invest in other activities. Table 1.3 shows the contribution of income to the welfare to bottle collectors. The contribution of income to the welfare of bottle collectors. Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 16 1 3.1 3.1 3.1 To pay house rent 7 21.9 21.9 25.0 Buying food 9 28.1 28.1 53.1 Others 15 46.9 46.9 100.0 Total 32 100.0 100.0 4.0 Discussion; Starting with age; our study has involved the bottle collectors aged below 18 years old and above 18 years old. The most dominant respondents interviewed, it identified that above 18 years are much involved in bottle collections probably because of the lower level of education, lack of alternative means of survival, social and economic changes influenced by the influx of higher education institutions, hence increase of plastic bottles. Above 40 years, they are involved less compared to the dominant responds maybe have alternative means of surviving such as vine farms, charcoal making as well as food vendors. The last group is under 18 years old. They show less participation because most of them are schooling either primary school or secondary school thus community school. Table 1.4 show the summary of participant interviewed in terms of age. Age Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Below 18 years 8 25.0 25.0 25.0 Above 18 years 15 46.9 46.9 71.9 Above 40 years 9 28.1 28.1 100.0 Total 32 100.0 100.0 On other hand, most of the participants are male occupying 68.8%. The reason behind that led men to be dominants are able to move long distance searching the plastic bottles. Also poverty, unemployment and men are safely in issues such as raping and robbering. Participants that were interviewed in our study are from Kizota, Chinangali and Mukonze coming to St. John’s University to collect the plastic bottles. Again it can be because male are the main contributors of home income. Women participated less thus 31.2% because they are required to nursing babies and security factors. Table 1.5 the table presents the summary of percentage of male and female Sex Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Female 10 31.2 31.2 31.2 Male 22 68.8 68.8 100.0 Total 32 100.0 100.0 The study show that bottle collectors are benefiting from their work since it enables them to meet some of their demands. For example they have managed to build houses, rehabilitating, paying rents and paying school fees for their children by using moneys obtained from selling of plastic bottles and others. In most cases the money obtained from selling bottles is abundantly used in others that occupy 50.0% such as buying clothing, paying water, electricity, and telephone bills. Few bottle collectors thus 6.2% are spending the income for building houses because the money obtained is not sufficient for building houses. Only 25% spend the income for paying school fees because the amount earned can not meet all household requirement and paying school fees simultaneously. Table 1.6 shows how the bottle collectors benefit from their job. What are the benefits do you expect to get from this activity Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid To build a house 2 6.2 6.2 6.2 To pay school fees 8 25.0 25.0 31.2 Others 16 50.0 50.0 81.2 I do not know 6 18.8 18.8 100.0 Total 32 100.0 100.0 Moreover, the study shows that the amount of kilograms collected per week per person has declining trend. Large percent, which is 62.5%, collect plastic bottles less than 10 kilograms per week. The reason behind is due to increase of bottle collectors influenced by lack of employment and poverty. Also the increase of price bottle water such as Uhai water, Kilimanjaro water and Asante water, this has resulted to the decrease of consumers, hence the unavailability of used plastic bottles. The figure below shows the summary of kilograms collected per day/week. Te study show that the achievement of bottle collectors varies according to age and needs of bottle collectors. Examples above 40 years old they have achieved buying school materials for their children. The dominant responds, which is 59.4% have achieved to meet other needs like buying means of transport like used bicycles and buying medicines both traditional and modern medicine. Furthermore, the study indicate that the future plan of bottle collectors in invest in other small project which is indicated by 28.1%, to extend the collection of plastic bottle as indicated by 37.5% and those who do not know as indicated by 34.4%. This mean that the amount obtained from selling plastic bottles is not enough to invest in small projects. Also, the bottle collectors intend to expand the project of collecting plastic bottles because it is profitable to them, and they have no alternative source of income. The others bottle collectors, which is 34.4% they do not have a plan probably because of ignorance as well as frustration or psychological problems. What is your future plan from plastic bottles collection activity Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid To invest in other small projects 9 28.1 28.1 28.1 To extend the collection of plastic bottles activity 12 37.5 37.5 65.6 I do not know 11 34.4 34.4 100.0 Total 32 100.0 100.0 The last objective in discussion is contribution of income to the welfare of bottle collectors. The income generated from collecting and selling plastic bottle have contributed in investing on petty projects and entrepreneurships. 6.2% of respondent said that they are expecting to invest on entrepreneurship, the small percent of entrepreneurship probably is due to the amount that collected is not sufficient to invest in larger entrepreneurship. The dominant percent of income which is 50% is used in other expenditures probably this is because of cost of living which lead the failure to accumulate capital which can be invested in petty project and entrepreneurship.18.8% of the respondents said that they do not know this is probably due to ignorance. What are the contributions of income to the of bottle collectors? Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid entrepreneurships 2 6.2 6.2 6.2 To invest on petty project 8 25.0 25.0 31.2 others 16 50.0 50.0 81.2 I do not know 6 18.8 18.8 100.0 Total 32 100.0 100.0 5.0 Conclusion; The assessment of the group was to asses the economic benefit of collecting plastic bottles collectors in recycling process in Dodoma municipality specifically in Kikuyu Ward, Kigamboni Street. In our study we discovered that in collection and selling of plastic bottle have contributed greatly in income generation and weal fare of the bottle collectors, the study indicated that, the income has enabled people to meet their needs such as to build houses, rehabilitating, paying rents and paying school fees for their children by using moneys obtained from selling of plastic bottles. Also the study indicated that most of the bottle collectors they do not have a future plan of they are doing, it seems that once they are the income they direct spending it and they are not spend it the future plan. Based on result of study, it seems that the bottle collectors they do not have the future plan of their activities, but they tend to be involving in this activities for only satisfying their daily demand.therefore the government and non government should educate them on importance on serving their income for present and future use. ,


REFERENCE

Cunningham (2007), Environmental Science and Global Concerned,9th Edition University of Minnesota, New York. Getis A,
Getis J, &Fellmann J, D, (2008) Introduction to Geography 11th Edition, McGraw-Hill New York.
Hays (2008).Garbage and Recycling in China through http//www.factsanddetails. Com/china.php?litemid=111&catid.html. Retrieved on 01-04-2012 at 1600hrs Medina m, (2008), The Informal Recycling Sector in developing countries. Washington Mchome, E (2011) Plastic Bottle hunters through http//www.thecitizen.co.tz./retrieved on 01-04-2012 at 1200hrs. UNMIK Staff (2012), Collection of Plastic Bottle through www.unmikonline.org/pages/01032012c.. retrieved on 20-03-2012 at2000hrs