Social and environmental impacts assessment of disposable nappy waste in Collins Chabane local municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa

Abstract

The use of disposable nappies has increased worldwide, while the use of cloth nappies has declined significantly. However, in rural communities, where refuse removal services are lacking, nappy waste is often dumped indiscriminately with little regard for the consequences. It is therefore important to understand the impacts of improper nappy waste disposal in order to protect human health and the natural environment. This study aimed to assess the social and environmental impacts of disposable nappy waste in Collins Chabane Local Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study employed a mixed method research design that involved the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. A snowball sampling method was used to identify 163 households with infants who used disposable nappies, while a purposive sampling method was employed to select seven Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres within the study area. Data were collected using a survey with closed-ended questions, semi-structured face-to-face interviews, and a field observation checklist. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed through thematic data analysis. Results showed that 26.4% of respondents disposed of nappy waste indiscriminately along roadsides, and 21.5% of it in nearby streams. Nappy waste was also disposed of in open spaces and termite mounds. Consequently, the study found that improper disposal of nappy waste leads to social and environmental impacts, with 65% of respondents indicating that it reflects poor cultural practices and/or behaviour in society. The study recommended that various stakeholders implement alternative measures, such as incentivised nappy waste take-back schemes, the establishment of nappy waste drop-off centres, and the designation of community environmental management champions.

Zwa u shumiswa ha maḽeri ane a shuma luthihi a laṱwa zwo engedzea ḽifhasi ḽoṱhe nga u angaredza, ngeno zwa u shumiswa ha maḽeri a malabi zwo tsela fhasi vhukuma. Fhedziha, kha zwitshavha zwa vhupo ha mahayani hune tshumelo dza u hwalwa ha mathukhwi dza sa vhe hone, maḽeri a mashika kanzhi a sokou laṱekanywa hoṱhehoṱhe hu si na u dzhiela nzhele masalandaitwa ane a nga vha hone nga murahu. Ngauralo, ndi zwa ndeme u vha na nḓivho ya nga ha masiandaitwa a u sokou laṱekanya maḽeri a mashika fhethu hoṱhehoṱhe nga nḓila i songo teaho u itela u tsireledza mutakalo wa vhathu khathihi na vhupo havho. Ṱhoḓisiso iyi yo livhiswa kha u sengulusa masiandaitwa ane a nga vha hone kha kutshilele kwa vhathu na kha vhupo havho ane a vhangwa nga zwiito zwa u sokou laṱekanya maḽeri a mashika fhethu hoṱhehoṱhe fhaḽa kha Masipala Wapo wa Collins Chabane, une wa wanala Vunḓuni ḽa Limpopo, kha ḽa Afrika Tshipembe. Ṱhoḓisiso idzi dzo shumisa maitele a zwa ṱhoḓisiso o ṱanganelaho ane a katela zwa u kuvhanganywa ha mafhungo nga nḓila ya khwanthithethivi na ya khwaḽithethivi. Ho shumiswa maitele a u shumisa vhashelamulenzhe kha u nanga vhaṅwe vhashelamulenzhe vha u ḓadzisa hu tshi itelwa u ṱalusa miṱa i swikaho 163 ine ya vha na dzitshetshe dzine dza shumisa maḽeri ano shumiswa luthihi a konaha u laṱwa, ngeno maitele a u nanga vhashelamulenzhe u ya nga nḓivho ine vha vha nayo o shumiswa kha u nanga senthara dza Mveledziso ya Vhana musi vha tshe Vhaṱuku (ECD) dza sumbe dzine dza vha henefho kha vhupo vhune ṱhoḓisiso iyi ya khou itwa khaho. Ho kuvhanganywa mafhungo hu tshi shumiswa ṱhoḓisiso dzine dza vha na mbudziso dzi lavhelelaho uri vhashelamulenzhe vha tou nanga kha phindulo dzo dzulaho dzo dzudzanywa, inthaviyu dzine muvhudzisi a vha na mutevhe wa mbudziso dzo dzudzanywaho dzine a nga kona u dzi shandukisa tshifhinga tshiṅwe na tshiṅwe arali zwo tea na mutevhe wa zwine zwa khou tou vhonwa nga maṱo henefho kha vhupo vhune ṱhoḓisiso ya khou itwa khaho. Mafhungo a khwanthithethivi o senguluswa hu tshi shumiswa mbalombalo dza ṱhalutshedzo ngeno mafhungo a khwaḽithethivi o senguluswa hu tshi shumiswa maitele a u sengulusa mafhungo a thyemathiki. Mvelelo dzo sumbedza uri 26.4% ya vhathu vho shelaho mulenzhe ndi vhane vha sokou laṱekanya maḽeri avho a mashika fhethu hoṱhehoṱhe henefho tsini na bada ngeno maṅwe a hone a swikaho 21.5% a tshi poswa ngomu milamboni ya henefho nga tsini. Maḽeri a mashika o dovha hafhu a wanala a tshi laṱekanywa fhethu hu re khagala khathihi na kha zwiulu zwa madzhulu. Musi zwo ralo, ṱhoḓisiso dzo dovha hafhu dza wana uri zwa u sokou laṱekanywa ha maḽeri a mashika nga nḓila i songo teaho, zwi ita uri hu vhe na masiandaitwa ane a si vhe avhuḓi kha kutshilele kwa vhathu na vhupo havho, he avho vhe vha shela mulenzhe vha swikaho 65% vha sumbedzisa uri hezwi zwi sumbedza u sa vha na maitele avhuḓi a zwa mvelele na/kana vhuḓifari tshitshavhani. Ṱhoḓisiso dzo themendela uri vhashelamulenzhe u ya nga u fhambana havho, vha thome u shumisa maṅwe maga maswa o fhambanaho, u fana na zwikimu zwa u dzhiulula murahu maḽeri a mashika zwine zwa vha na ṱhuṱhuwedzo ya mbadelo, u thomiwa ha senthara dza u posela khadzo maḽeri a mashika khathihi na u vhewa ha vharangaphanḓa vha zwa ndangulo ya vhupo ha tshitshavha. Maipfi a ndeme: Maḽeri ane a shuma luthihi a laṱwa, masiandaitwa a maḽeri a mashika, ndangulo ya maḽeri a mashika, senthara dza u posela khadzo maḽeri a mashika.

Emisaveni hinkwayo, ku tirhisiwa ka maleri lama cukumetiwaka ku engetelekile, kasi ku tirhisiwa ka maleri ya malapi ku hungutekile swinene. Hambiswiritano, etindhawini ta le makaya, laha ku nga hava tindhawu to cukumeta thyaka, hakanyingi maleri lama nga thyaka ma cukumetiwa kun'wana ni kun'wana handle ko khathala hi vuyelo byo endla tano. Hikokwalaho i swa nkoka ku twisisa switandzhaku swa ku cukumetiwa ka maleri lama nga thyaka hi ndlela leyi nga fanelangiki leswaku ku ta sirheleriwa rihanyo ra vanhu ni mbango. Nkambisiso lowu a wu endleriwe ku kambela switandzhaku swa ntshamiseko ni mbango emhakeni ya ku cukumetiwa ka maleri lama nga thyaka eka Masipala wa Muganga wa Collins Chabane, eka Xifundzankulu xa Limpopo, laha Afrika-Dzonga. Nkambisiso lowu wu tirhise endlelo ro endla ndzavisiso leri hlanganeke leri katsaka ku hlengeleta data ya tinhlayo ni ya marito. Ku tirhisiwe endlelo ro sungula hi ku hlawula mindyangu yintsongo ku kondza yi fika eka ya 163 leyi nga ni tincece leti tirhisaka maleri lama cukumetiwaka, ku tlhela ku tirhisiwa endlelo ro hlawula hi ku kongoma tindhawu ta nkombo ta Dyondzo ya Nhluvukiso wa Vundzumulo (Childhood Development [ECD]) leti nga endhawini leyi ku endliwaka nkambisiso eka yona. Ku hlengeletiwe data hi ku tirhisa nkambisiso lowu nga ni tinhlamulo leti nga hlawuriwaka, mimbulavurisano yo vulavula ni vanhu hi ku kongoma ni nxaxamelo wa swilo leswi faneleke ku langutisiwa loko ku endzeriwa ndhawu. Data ya tinhlayo yi kambisisiwile hi ku tirhisa tinhlayo leti hlamuselaka, kasi data ya marito yi kambisisiwile hi ku tirhisa data ya leswi vuriweke hi vanhu. Vuyelo byi kombise leswaku 26,4% wa lava vutisiweke va cukumete maleri lama nga thyaka kun'wana ni kun'wana etlhelo ka magondzo, naswona 21,5% wa vona ma cukumete eka swinambyana swa le kusuhi. Nakambe maleri lama nga thyaka a ma cukumetiwa etindhawini leti pfulekeke ni le ka switshuka swa majenje. Hikwalaho, nkambisiso lowu wu kume leswaku ku cukumetiwa loku nga fanelangiki ka maleri lama nga thyaka ku ni vuyelo byo biha eka vanhu ni le ka mbango, laha 65% wa lava vutisiweke va vuleke leswaku sweswo swi komba mikhuva yo biha ni/kumbe ku nga khathali ka vanhu. Ndzavisiso lowu wu bumabumele leswaku vanhu vo hambanahambana lava khumbekaka va tirhisa tindlela tin'wana, to fana ni swikimi swo khutaza ku ku tlherisela maleri lama nga thyaka, ku simeka tindhawu to lahlela maleri lama nga thyaka ni ku hlawula vanhu lava nga ta rhangisa ntirho wo khathalela mbango.