Abstract

This study was conducted with the objective of examining environmental risks associated with improper municipal solid waste disposal (MSWD) in Masvingo City. A sample of 406 residents and key informants was used. Residents were from high-density, medium-density and low-density suburbs while key informants were city council formal waste workers and Environmental Management Agency workers. Mixed methods design was employed in which concurrent triangulation was used for data collection and data analysis. Questionnaires, interviews and personal observations were employed to examine environmental risks. The highest number of respondents (87%) noted land pollution as an environmental risk and the second highest (76%) highlighted air pollution. In addition, 62% of the respondents noted surface water pollution while 59% highlighted loss of urban beauty as a risk. Thus the study revealed that land pollution, surface waste pollution, air pollution and loss of urban beauty were environmental risks associated with improper municipal solid waste disposal. Therefore, municipal solid waste management in Masvingo was not sustainable.

Key Words: Integrated, Improper disposal, Municipal solid waste, Sustainability