Assessing the Efficiency of Solid Waste Management by Private Companies in Lusaka City: Case of Kabwata Constituency

This study examined the effect of private companies’ solid waste management on Lusaka’s waste management. The general objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of solid waste management by private companies in Lusaka city. The specific objectives are to determine if there are any policy inadequacies in the public-private partnership which leads to accumulation of solid waste in the city, to determine whether household income has a bearing on solid west management by private companies, to determine if there are sufficient private companies collecting refuse to cater for the increasing population in Kabwata constituency and to determine whether management of solid waste by private companies reduces solid waste accumulation in undesignated places. Applying a qualitative inductive case study approach, both the households and the business community indicated that the Lusaka City Council (LCC) did not have sufficient companies to undertake solid waste collection under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy. Additionally, the study revealed that household and business income had no influence on solid waste collection by private companies, and the majority of the respondents indicated a minimal reduction in the accumulation of solid waste. Key informants from the Lusaka city council indicated policy inadequacies to compel residents and business communities to adhere to strict solid waste management guidelines and to compel them to register with a solid waste company designated by LCC. Therefore, the study recommends that measures be undertaken to increase the number of companies engaged in solid waste management and policy measures should be enforced to compel residents and business entities to subscribe to private companies and adhere to solid waste management guidelines as prescribed by the law.