IMPLICATIONS OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE: A CASE STUDY FROM KOLLAM URBAN AREA, KERALAUDAYAKUMAR J., MUFEED V.T., PRANAV P.S., SETHU C. JOSEPH, SOORAJ A.R. AND VISWAJITH S.Abstract The type of solid waste management practiced by the urban holds were surveyed along with collection of data on the socio-economic status and quality of life related subjective attitudes of households on selected parameters. Open dumping of solid wastes on the earthâs surface was the main type of solid waste management practice in Kollam urban area, irrespective of the educational qualifications, quality of housing, economic status and the satisfaction levels of households on the waste management facilities available to them. The percentage of households adopting open dumping decreased from lower objective quality of life (QOLo) to higher QOLo. Majority of households were not satisfied with the solid waste management facilities available to them, but still they used open dumping as their main method of solid waste management. The tendency to incinerate solid wastes increased with increase in educational qualifications. The practice of burying the solid waste has shown a decrease in trend with increase in educational qualifications and increase in quality of housing. Recycling has shown no relationship with educational qualifications, but it has shown an increase in trend with increase in quality of housing. In the case of housing colonies, recycling was the main mode of solid waste management. In slums, independent houses and flats, burying, incineration and recycling were less practiced compared to open dumping. |