Indiscriminate open space solid waste dumping behaviour of householders in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana: a political economy analysis

Abstract

This study assessed the factors which influenced households’ choice of waste disposal methods using cross-sectional data of 547 households from seven districts in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. Indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes in open spaces by households was the pivotal method of disposal of solid wastes that was analysed using economic theories related to consumption behaviour. We established that large household sizes were associated with increased likelihood of open dumping of solid wastes. Increased likelihood of open dumping of solid wastes by households was also linked to the lack of formal education or schooling of the household head, the availability of electricity inside the premises of the house, which encouraged production activities within the household, and open defecation. Urban households were less likely to engage in open dumping of solid wastes as compared to rural households. The other factors that reduced the likelihood of open dumping of solid wastes were generally in the area of quality of housing services; these were the availability of water inside the household premises, the number of sleeping rooms available to the household, and higher quality of housing services revealed through the willingness-to-pay for rents by householders. Finally, Guan-headed households were less likely to engage in open dumping of solid wastes than non-Guan-headed households, especially those living in rural areas. Rural Guan-headed households had the lowest proportion of open dumping of solid wastes.

Keywords:

• economic behaviour
• environmental economics
• environmental management
• household behaviour
• Ghana
• open space dumping
• solid wastes
• waste management

Public interest statement

The objectives of sustainable development as enshrined in the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, emphasize good environmental sanitation. Achieving this goal is undermined in many parts of the world by open-field dumping of solid wastes behaviours. Using cross-sectional data we assessed the factors which influenced households’ indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes in open spaces in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. We established that large household sizes, lack of formal education or schooling of the household head, the availability of electricity inside the premises of the house, which encouraged production activities within the household, and open defecation were associated with increased likelihood of open dumping of solid wastes. In general, urban households were less likely to engage in open dumping of solid wastes than rural households. The other factors which reduced the likelihood of open dumping of solid wastes included the number of sleeping rooms available to the household and higher quality of housing services revealed through the willingness-to-pay for rents by householders.

Competing Interests

The authors declares no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to USAID for the provision of the survey data to undertake the analysis reported in this study. This paper was developed through the Doctor of Philosophy Student Research Enhancement Programme in Political Economy Analysis at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, and is the fourth paper published during the 2019/2020 academic year. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of members of the Department during occasional seminar presentations for the development of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Notes on contributors

Theophilus Tweneboah Kodua

Theophilus Tweneboah Kodua holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies (Economics & Entrepre. option) from University for Development Studies, Ghana and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ghana. He is currently pursuing a PhD degree in Agricultural Economics and Policy at the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana. His research interests include rural and agricultural development, production, resource and environmental economics and agricultural trade and market access.

Kwabena Asomanin Anaman

Kwabena Asomanin Anaman is a Professor at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. Professor Anaman has 37-year professional work experience, which includes 19 years of research, teaching and government advisory work in the Asian-Pacific Region. His research interests are in applied economics, in the areas of political economy, resource and environmental economics, economic growth (firm, industry and macroeconomy), economics of agriculture, international trade, managerial/business economics, and economics of the family and marriage.