Effect of Participatory Urban Household Solid Waste Management Programme on Social Harmony: A Case Study in Matara Municipality

Abstract

A Participatory Household Solid Waste Management (PHSWM) project was launched in Walpola GN Division of Matara District in 2007. A study was conducted to determine the effect of this project on improvement social harmony in the area. Sample of 50 households were indiscriminately selected for a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire survey was conducted to compare the post project situation with the pre-project situation. The survey revealed that the households kept the kitchen wastes and garden wastes in their own garden without been a burden to neighbors and consequentially social conflicts related to waste disposal have been reduced. About 90% of the households in the community has improved the relationships with their neighbors and out of them 69% found to share their harvest and garden equipment. According to the base line survey, only 63% was sharing materials with neighbors but after the project it has been improved to 86%. Another important criterion investigated was the complains about scattering wastes in front of the houses which was found significantly reduced. Finally it can be concluded that through the participatory household waste management the harmony of the society has significantly improved.