Real Time Data Capture: A Response to Unsustainable Dumping of Disposable Diapers and Sanitary Pads in Gweru City, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The sustainable management of used disposable diapers and sanitary pads (Absorbent Hygienic Products) is undoubtedly a topical issue in municipalities across the developing world. This article is based on a bigger study which investigated how the city of Gweru can best manage this waste using a model that adjusts itself in response to real time data. Purposive and cluster sampling were employed to select the wards and the respondents respectively. Data was gathered using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Particularly, semi-structured questionnaires were augmented by observations and in-depth interviews of key informants. The study found out that the municipality in Gweru was fighting a problem they had not yet measured; hence they were acting on vague data. Results of this study are likely to stimulate further research on how real time data on waste can be gathered. The results are also likely to shape the future of waste management in cities across the developing world. The main contribution of this study to the existing body of literature is its recommendation on the usage of real time data to drive waste management.