Effects of waste management on local governments revenue : A case of Assin North municipal assembly

Abstract

There have been continuing debates over the allocation of fewer funds for waste management by most metropolitan/municipal/district assemblies in the country. This work however, examines how waste management affects the economic base of the Assin North Municipal Assembly. The study also finds out; how the assembly generates its revenue, the types and volumes of waste generated, how the assembly funds waste disposal, other alternative means to fund waste disposal and how waste management has affected the assembly’s resources and development. In all, 250 were targeted for the study, 242 responded. Both primary and secondary data were used. Proportionate random sampling was employed to generate the sample (primary data). The main tools employed in gathering the data were questionnaires, interview schedules and personal observation. The study revealed that a huge chunk of the Assembly’s financial resources was used to manage waste. For five consecutive years, the expenditure on waste kept on increasing as against the amount budgeted. As a result of this disturbing trend, many developmental projects embarked upon by the Assembly have stalled, since waste management competes for the same resources that are supposed to be used to develop the Municipality. The work contends that, in order for the Municipality to develop, alternative means for funding waste management should be found so as to reduce the expenditure on waste. The institution of programmes such as communal labour, educational awareness campaigns, contracting out, and others have been suggested as measures that could help reduce the expenditure on waste management.