Residents' Perceptions and Intentions On Solid Waste Source Separation and Composting Initiatives in Accra

Abstract

The city of Accra is confronting escalating waste management issues driven by rapid urbanisation. These challenges have strained the city's waste management infrastructures. A waste characterisation study commissioned by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly in 2020 revealed that about 40% of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the city is accounted for by the waste generated. In response, city authorities have proposed the municipal solid waste source separation and compost initiative as a solution. This study presents findings from a community survey assessing the state of residents' existing practices, perceptions and behavioural intentions to practice solid waste source separation and composting. The survey was informed by the Integrative Model of Behavioural Prediction, which looks at an understanding of residents' intentions to adopt the city's initiative. Data was collected via questionnaires administered to 1,617 respondents. The study discusses the implications for policy, public education, and the integration of informal waste actors into the formal waste management framework.