Burning waste pollutes the air, long exposure to polluted air causes respiratory problems, and respiratory problems make people more susceptible to COVID-19. This study asked a simple question: can people be encouraged to stop burning waste and adopt formal waste disposal?
Researchers from the University of Virginia, the University of California, Santa Barbara and Ingenious Learning Solutions ran a field experiment in Nansana Municipality, in partnership with Nansana Municipal Council and co-funded by UVA and UCSB. Two interventions were tested in selected LC1 Cells:
- information materials for zone leaders on how air pollution worsens COVID-19 risks
- friendly social competitions between pairs of Cells for the biggest reduction in waste burning, with symbolic prizes for the winners.
Our role
An Ingenious researcher served as Co-Principal Investigator and Project Field Manager. Between March and October 2021, despite a 42-day national lockdown in mid-2021, our team:
- obtained informed consent from 130 LC1 Chairpersons under UNCST guidelines
- surveyed waste-service coverage in all 130 Cells and found that only 45 had authorised waste collection, so the study was focused on 44 Cells where formal services existed (one chairperson chose not to take part)
- refined the waste-burning assessment through three pilot studies
- secured Ministry of Health approval for the information materials with the Municipality’s Head of Public Health
- interviewed 423 LC1 executive committee members for the baseline
- completed two rounds of GPS-recorded waste-burning assessments.
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