Assessment of Community Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Municipal Solid Waste Management in Rubavu City, Rwanda

Municipal solid waste management has become a major environmental and public health concern in rapidly urbanising cities, particularly in developing countries like Rwanda. This study aimed to assess and examine community perceptions, attitudes, and practices (KAP), and their relationship with the effectiveness of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Rubavu City. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected from 397 households using structured questionnaires. The data were analysed using SPSS version 30, descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, including Chi-square tests and correlation analysis. The results indicated that households generate approximately 117,259.62 kg of solid waste per day citywide, with waste composition dominated by biodegradable materials, particularly garden waste (40.3%) and food waste (20.6%). The Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) assessment showed that 83.2% of respondents had high awareness and positive attitudes toward waste management. However, only 29.6% practised waste sorting, and participation in reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) activities remained low. Regarding the effectiveness of MSWM practices, the results suggest that although a significant proportion (72.4%) of households reported access to door-to-door solid waste collection services, improper disposal methods such as backyard dumping and open burning persist. Inferential analysis indicated that attitudes toward waste management importance was associated with waste sorting practices (χ² = 5.62, p = 0.018), while perception of waste as an environmental problem was associated with participation in 3R practices (χ² = 9.14, p = 0.003). Correlation analysis further showed positive relationships between attitude and waste management practices (r = 0.18, p = 0.021) and between perception and recycling behaviour (r = 0.29, p = 0.004). Knowledge demonstrated a significant positive correlation with waste sorting (r = 0.53, p < 0.001), 3R participation (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), and composting behaviour (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). Household income was also positively associated with MSWM effectiveness (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). The study concluded that effective municipal solid waste management in Rubavu City is influenced by social, behavioural, economic, and institutional factors for improving environmental sustainability and public health in Rubavu City. Furthermore, the researcher recommends that there is a need for more education, awareness campaigns and enforcement of the laws by the local authorities to positively influence the attitudes of residents.