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HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY

SBA: RESEARCH PROJECT

THE EFFECT OF IMPROPER GARBAGE DISPOSAL IN THE TRINITYVILLE

COMMUNITY

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Candidate Name: Taunique Mcduffus
Candidate Number:
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Teacher Name:
Date of submission:
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Table of contents

Introduction__________________________________________ 2
Methodology_________________________________________ 3
Presentation Of Data___________________________________ 4-6
Analysis and Interpretation of Data________________ _7
Conclusion____________________________________________8
Recommendation____________________________________ _9
Reflection_____________________________________________ 10
Biblography___________________________________________11
Appendices___________________________________________ 12-14

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Acknowledgement___________________________________ _15

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Introduction

Background/Observation

For the past 18 years the researcher has resided in Trinityville. Over the years, the population of
the town has grown significantly, leading to increased waste production. Unfortunately, the
community's waste management system has not kept up with the growing population, and as a
result, improper garbage disposal has become a significant problem in the community. The lack
of a proper waste disposal system has led to littering and illegal dumping of trash which has had
adverse effects on the environment and the overall health and well-being of the community.

Problem statement
The improper disposal of garbage in the community has had a negative impact on the health of
Trinityville residents.

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To investigate if improper disposal of garbage affects/impacts the health of people in the
community of Trinityville.
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Methodology
The questionnaire method was used to collect information about the effects of improper garbage
disposal in the Trinityville Community. A questionnaire is a research tool composed of
structured questions designed to elicit statistically reliable data from respondents. This method
was chosen because it takes little time to complete and uses closed-ended questions, which
reduces respondents’ stress. The researcher decided that it would be best to select people aged 18
and up to complete the questionnaire. Thirty (30) questionnaires were handed personally to
individuals from the Trinityville community to answer one for each participant. The
questionnaire contained 12 questions designed to collect personal information as well as
questions about the causes, effects, and potential solutions to improper garbage disposal. The
data collection took one week and three days. While this method has been shown to be effective,
there is still the limitation that some respondents misinterpreted or misunderstood some of the
questions.

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Presentation Of Data

The citizens of Trinityville were issued a total of 30 questionnaires, all of which were returned.
Males made up 53.7 percent of the respondents, while females made up 46.3 percent. Data will
be presented using bar charts, tables, pie charts etc.

Question 11

Figure 1
Table showing causes of improper waste disposal

Lack of education 10%.

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lack of adequate waste management systems 60%
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Lack of proper machinery 16.7

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carelessness 13.3
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Question 7
Figure 2
Pie chart showing where residents of Trinityville dispose of their garbage.

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Question 12
Figure 3
Bar graph showing the effects of improper disposal on citizens health

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Analysis and Interpretation of Data

After successfully collecting data, the researcher concluded that the primary cause of
improper garbage disposal in Trinityville was a lack of an adequate waste management system
(60%). A lack of proper machinery was also mentioned by 16.7% of respondents, as was
carelessness (13.3%) and a small percentage (10%) believe that a lack of education causes
improper garbage disposal (see in Figure 1). Figure 2 shows that 68% of respondents disposed of
their garbage in rivers. Gullies, bins, and sidewalks accounted for 10%, 7%, and 15% of garbage
disposal sites, respectively. The bar chart(figure 3) depicts the impact of improper disposal on
citizens' health. All of the respondents have suffered as a result of the improper disposal.
Leptospirosis was responsible for 53%, Dengue was responsible for 20%, and Chikungunya was
responsible for 13%. Asthma represented 9% of the effects and headache for the remaining 5%.
According to "Longman Human and Social Biology for CSEC," improper garbage
disposal can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory problems and diseases like
tuberculosis, pneumonia, Chikungunya, leptospirosis, asthma, and dengue. Furthermore, the
practice can result in other disease vectors and environmental degradation.

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Conclusion

Figure 3 indicates that the majority of the residents are suffering from leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is caused by rats feeding or urinating on foods consumed by humans. These rats
breed rapidly in garbage that are improperly disposed of. Thus, there is therefore a clear link
between the improper disposal of garbage in the community and the impact on the health of the
residents, as seen in the high level of leptospirosis.

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Recommendation

➢ Encourage people to compost food scraps and yard waste in their homes or community.

➢ Impose fines on people who litter or dispose of garbage improperly, to create a sense of
accountability and responsibility.

➢ Encourage community cleanups to promote a sense of community responsibility for

waste management.

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Reflection

This research has enlightened me greatly. I had no idea there was such a serious problem with
garbage disposal. I shared the information with members of my community, and we are all now
aware of the numerous illnesses linked to improper garbage disposal. We’ve since scheduled a
cleanup day. We will also construct a composter and begin using it to produce compost from
kitchen scraps, cut grass, and other garden trimmings.
Improper disposal is a major matter because it can cause members of my community to
become ill as a result of unsanitary conditions, and businesses may lose money as a result of
workers becoming ill and not being able to come to work.

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Bibliography
Fullick,A., Ragoobirsingh, D.(2009). Longman Human and Social Biology for CSEC.

Retrieved March 30, 2023

https://www.change.org/p/waste-management-improper-waste-disposal-and-littering-355e5196-4
624-4a74-830e-5ab1cd44817b

Fosbery,R.,Etal (2010).Human and Social Biology for CSEC.

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Appendices
Questionnaire

1. What is your gender?

Male Female

2. To which age group do you belong?

18-21 years 22-25 years
26- 29 years 30 years and over

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3. How long have you been residing in the community of Trinityville?
5 years 11-15 years
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6-10 years 16 years and over

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4. Do you think garbage has been properly disposed of in the community of Trinityville
over the past ten years?
No Agree Maybe Strongly agree

5. To what percentage does the improper disposal of garbage affect residents in this
community?

less than 20%. 21- 46%. 47- 77%

78-100%
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6. Has there been any improvement in the disposal of garbage ?

no Yes To some extent Not sure

7. Where do you dispose of household waste?

A) sidewalks
b) bins
C) gullies
D) rivers

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8. Identify the types of waste produced in your household weekly.
I)discarded(thrown out)
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Ii)Paper , rags and plastic

Iii)Metal
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Iv)Glass

a)IV, III, I
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b)I and II only

c)I, IV only
d)All of the above

9. How do you sort your household waste

I) Compost waste(food waste, yard waste and wet paper products)

II)Recyclables waste( paper, cardboards, plastics, tins, cans,etc)

III)Garbage waste(This is waste which is not suitable for compost and recycling)
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IV)Hazardous waste(Batteries, pesticides, printer cartridges, nail polish etc.)

a)I, II only
b)I and iv
c)I and iii only
d)All of the above

10. Do you think that stricter penalties should be imposed for those who carry out improper
garbage disposal practices?
Yes
Not sure

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No

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11. What are the most causes of improper waste disposal?
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a)lack of education
b)lack of adequate waste management systems(landfill, incinerator etc)
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C)Lack of proper machinery

d) carelessness
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12. What are the effects of improper disposal of garbage on individuals' health ?
a)Dengue
b)Leptospirosis
c)Asthma
d)Chikungunya
E) Headache
F)None
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Acknowledgement

I'd like to thank the citizens of Trinityville for their participation and time spent filling out the
questionnaires . I'd also like to thank my family for their inspiration. Finally I'd like to thank my
teacher, Mr. Wilson, for his constant guidance and feedback throughout this assessment.

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