A Lived Experience of Solid Waste Disposal in Pit Latrine: A Hermeneutic Approach

The study is significant as it contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 6. The study is significant as it contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number six (SDG No.6) which aspires to ensure sanitation service provision for all citizens by 2030., which aims to ensure sanitation services for all citizens by 2030. In response to the global vision and in alignment with the National Water and Sanitation Policy. The government of Zambia has implemented many sanitation interventions across the Peri-Urban areas of Lusaka, hence, the study purpose was to explore stakeholders lived experiences of sanitation programmes in Lusaka’s George Compound, Zambia. the study purpose was guided by an objective which explored the challenges of solid waste in Pit Latrines in the Peri-Urban areas of Lusaka. The researcher, adopted qualitative approach in which an interpretive phenomenological paradigm mirrored the study. Moreover, the researcher adopted a relativist ontological stance, which posit that there is no single reality in understanding sanitation. In this study, the researcher explored sanitation through multiple perspectives. The study used an exploratory case study using a criterion-based purposive sampling in which participants with similar characteristics such as experience working in the sanitation sector and those that benefited from the sanitation interventions was applied. The study adopted a sample size of 29 Participants, disaggregated as 10 Males, 15 women, and 4 key informants. The sample size was determined in the field when no further new insights were emerging. The study revealed that most of the stakeholders poorly managed solid waste normally finds its way in the pit latrines as well as the faecal treatment facilities. Furthermore, most of the community beneficiaries expressed that their pit latrines fill up quickly because they are also used as solid waste dumping in pit latrines. Similarly, the study further established that solid waste collectors are not consistent in collecting solid waste, hence most of the people tends to resort in using the pit latrines as dumping areas. Lastly, the study established that most pit latrines are also used for dumping solid waste which affects the texture and increases cost for separation of sludge from solid waste. The disposal of solid waste has cost maintenance implication of the Faecal Sludge Treatment Facilities as well as impact on-site sanitation technologies. Hence policy makers need to rethink developing and implanting a robust behaviour change information education awareness programmes coupled with investments in community based movable trash bins to avert communities dumping waste into the pit latrines. The policy direction will buttress the community-based enterprises and other existing efforts aimed at mitigating against solid waste dumping into the Pit latrines.