The widespread and indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in open places, streets and public markets, presents a formidable challenge for the municipal authorities in the Lake Victoria towns. In fact, studies carried out by UN-HABITAT show that because of limited capacity, the Municipal Authorities are collecting less than 5% of household waste. The remaining 95% is contributing to the serious problems of environmental pollution and the deteriorating quality of the water in Lake Victoria. LVWATSAN is working with the Municipalities and local communities to enhance their capacity to improve solid waste management systems. The focus is on providing the necessary equipment for the collection and disposal of waste, complemented by training, institutional development and public awareness, as well as strengthening community based initiatives in waste management.

A special solid waste management system has been designed which takes into account the size of the towns and the haul distance to the disposal sites. The seven project towns in the first phase interventions for Solid Waste Management are all relatively small with populations of between 20,000 and 200,000. This means that waste quantities in each town are quite small, with each town being responsible for its own waste disposal. The haul distances from the towns to the disposal sites are all relatively short - typically 3 to 10 km. In this regard tractors are much more cost effective than trucks in providing collection services due to their lower capital and operating costs and longer life expectancy.

Tractor trailed systems have therefore been recommended for six of the seven towns, using either low loading height trailers or high tipping container trailer pick-up system. These trailers have been manufactured by Farm Engineering Industries Limited (FEIL) in Kisumu, Kenya to a designs and specifications provided by UN-HABITAT. A small pickup, manufactured by NDUME Engineering limited of Gilgil, also in Kenya, uses a two wheeled tractor as a power source and has been modified to suit UNHABITAT’s requirements. For one town, Mutukula, it has been recommended that the Little Pickup would meet all the waste haulage requirements.