Participation communautaire et gestion des déchets dans les zones à risque : cas du quartier vieux panier de la commune de Yaoundé iv

Abstract

This study is based on community participation and waste management in risk areas or in other words in marshy areas or so-called wetlands. It is motivated by the observation that despite the resolutions and initiatives taken by the policies to address the problem of household waste in the cities of Cameroon and particularly in marshy areas this waste is still a source of many nuisances, health, unhealthy and lack of hygiene. To deal with this problem, communities have put in place a number of techniques to manage this household waste because, as our literature review shows, ecological behaviour or even local development leads people to improve their environment. In addition, other studies indicate that the mastery of modalities such as reduction, reuse, and composting, recycling or even sanitation can make these so-called marshy areas or humid areas a better living environment for the populations. In view of this participation by the communities to improve their living environment, we asked ourselves the following main question “Does community participation contribute efficiently to waste management?” For this we formulated a general hypothesis and secondary hypotheses. These hypotheses were tested on the basis of a questionnaire administered to the 338 inhabitants of our study area. The sampling technique used was probability selection. The questionnaires were analyzed and statistically processed using SPSS Software. Inferential statistics made it possible to verify and confirm out three research hypotheses. Hypothesis 1 was confirmed at 57.406%, hypothesis 2 at 78.698% and hypothesis 3 at 78.282%. In view of these results, our general hypothesis proved to be valid at 71.462%. While looking at the theoretical foundations we have made use of two main approaches: the empowerment theory and the theory of planned behavior. This allows us to say that a good awareness and involvement of households in waste management can transform them into real agents of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in order to create an ecological conscience or eco-citizenship.