Solid wastes comprise all the wastes arising from human and animal activities that are normally solid, discarded
as useless or unwanted materials. Health hazards associated with improper disposal of solid wastes to the
community were investigated in Morogoro municipality. The aim of the project was to investigate the solid
waste disposal practices and their health hazard implications to the community in Morogoro municipality. The
study was conducted by considering several solid waste disposal sites based on three methods; observation,
questionnaire survey and microbiological analysis. Based on observation method, several solid waste practices
were detected including collection of wastes using trucks, wheel barrow, carriers made from elephant grasses
and cement bags. Questionnaire survey pinpointed several diseases caused by solid wastes such as malaria,
diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid and worm diseases from the respondents. From microbiological analysis,
several pathogenic bacteria were identified from the solid disposal sites. The bacteria with their frequency of
isolation identified were: Salmonella typhimurium (16.7%), Shigella dysenteriae (16.7%), Citrobacter freundii
(8.3%), Citrobacter amalonaticus (8.3%), Aerobacter aerogenes (8.3%), Proteus vulgaris (16.7%), Klebsiella
oxyotoca (8.3%), Klebsiella (8.3%), E.coli (8.3%). Solid waste generated by the daily activities of the people
needs to be properly managed in such a way that it minimizes the risk to the environment and human health.
Inadequate collection and disposal of solid waste is a major factor in the spread of disease and environmental
degradation.