| dc.description.abstract | Globally, there has been an increase in population that has led to increased
urbanization and change in consumption patterns. This has led to an
increase in solid waste generation. Commercial enterprises have also
increased exponentially, which has resulted in an increase in solid waste
generation worldwide and Kakamega town. This study sought to analyse the
influence of the levels of awareness, willingness to pay, and incentives on
solid waste collection, transportation, and disposal by commercial
enterprises in Kakamega town. A cross-sectional research design was
employed. A minimum sample size of 300 commercial enterprises was drawn
from a study population of 1,372 commercial enterprises using Taro Yamen
formula. Simple random sampling was used to identify the commercial
enterprises within the study area. Purposive sampling was used to identify
key informants such as the Town Manager and the Director of the
environment who were interviewed. Primary data were collected through
structured questionnaires administered to the commercial enterprises,
interview schedules for key informants, focused group discussions, and
photography. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics:
percentages, frequencies, means, graphs, and pier chats. Qualitative data
were analysed thematically along with the research objectives and presented
in narrative form. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to determine the
relationship between the dependent variables as explained by the
independent variables in the study; Levels of awareness, willingness to pay,
incentives. The analysed findings were presented inform of tables, figures,
and plates. Results shows that the awareness levels on solid waste
transportation and disposal were extremely high at r=0.882, compared to the
collection at r=0.375. Thus, the frequency of solid waste collection could not
influence the frequency of solid waste transportation and disposal. Provision
of incentives such as reduced charges, provision of defined transfer point,
provision of waste holding bins were extremely high thus influencing the
solid waste management practices by the commercial enterprises at r=0.830.
Most of the commercial enterprises were willing to pay for solid waste
management to the municipal council at 64%. Using the results, the County
Government of Kakamega can incorporate all the waste generators in the
solid waste management hierarchy thus improving on solid waste
management practices and converting the waste into cash | en_US |
